Licence

Discharging effluent or waste water (England)

You may need an environmental permit to discharge liquid effluent or waste water to surface water or the ground.

Apply for this licence

Start now

This applies to discharges:

  • into surface waters, for example, rivers, streams, estuaries, lakes, canals or coastal waters
  • into or on the ground, such as spreading waste sheep dip, or discharging treated sewage effluent to ground through an infiltration system

Waste water includes:

  • poisonous, noxious or polluting matter
  • polluting substances
  • waste matter
  • trade or sewage effluent

Check if you need an environmental permit or whether your activity is exempt.