Guide to Discharge Permits from the Environment Agency
It’s a confusing situation when you just don’t know if you require a permit to discharge or if you just don’t understand the general binding rules set out by the Environment Agency (EA). We have completed a guide to help you understand a little more and hopefully help you realise its not so scary after all.
What Are The General Binding Rules?
Drainage is something we never think of after we have flushed the toilet, its gone and we carry on with our day. Unfortunately, with off mains drainage this is not the case. Quite often the discharge ends up in local water courses or released into the ground. With so many systems causing pollution into our environment Natural England and the EA have helped to design rules that everyone should abide to ensure minimal pollution and potential health risks are limited.
There are a number of rules stipulated but the most relevant to understand the discharge you have and if this is a legal discharge we have added the basics for you:
Discharge To Ground
- Only discharge 2 cubic meters or less in volume.
- Only discharge domestic sewage.
- Do not cause pollution of surface water or ground water.
- Use the correct treatment system.
You must either use a septic tank to treat sewage and discharge waste water to ground via a drainage field. Or a sewage treatment plant discharging to drainage field.
Both systems must be to British standards. Drainage mounds can meet the general binding rules if they are not located on flood plains and installed to British standard (BS6297:2007)
You can not meet the General Binding Rules (GBR) if you are using a well/borehole or have a soak-away (designed for rainwater) installed after 2007.
Other Points to Consider When Discharging to Ground
Make sure the discharge is not in a Groundwater Protection Zone 1 (GPZ 1). Also known as the Inner Protection Zone, this is a defined area around a groundwater source, such as a well, borehole or spring, that is used for public drinking water supply. It is part of the broader system of Source Protection Zones (SPZs) established to safeguard groundwater from contamination.
You need to ensure that your treatment system meets the correct British Standard(s).
You need to ensure that your treatment system is installed and operated correctly and that is also has enough capacity.
You should ensure your treatment system is regularly maintained and emptied. This will also form part of your warranty.
If you sell your property you should tell the new owner about the sewage treatment system with all service records. Properly kept records showing servicing and warranty will also help sell the property.
If you stop using your treatment system make sure it’s decommissioned properly
Additional rules after 1st January 2015 (for any installations after this date)
Check if you can connect to a nearby public foul sewer
Get building regulations and planning approval (if required)
Make sure the discharge point is not in or near protected sites (within 50m) of:
- Special areas of conversation
- Special protection areas
- Ramsar Wetland sites
- Biological Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Additional rules after 2nd October 2023 (for any installations after this date)
Make sure your new discharge point does not use the same discharge point as any other discharge as the combined volume may exceed the general binding discharge volume rule.
Make sure your new discharge is not within 50M of any other exempt small discharge plant.
Discharge to Surface Water
- Only discharge 5 cubic meters or less a day in volume.
- Only discharge domestic sewage (trade must have a permit).
- Do not cause pollution of surface water or ground water.
- Use the correct treatment system - You must use a small treatment plant to treat sewage if you're discharging to a water course. IF you have a septic tank discharging to a water course you must connect to a public sewer, replace your septic tank with a sewage treatment plant or install a drainage field. you have a time scale of around 12 months to complete this
Other Points to Consider When Discharging to Surface Water
In tidal areas, make sure you discharge below the mean low water spring mark.
Make sure your treatment system meets the correct British standard. BSEN12566 for small sewage treatment plants and BS6297:2007 for drainage fields.
You need to ensure that your treatment system is installed and operated correctly and that is also has enough capacity.
You should ensure your treatment system is regularly maintained and emptied. This will also form part of your warranty.
If you sell your property you should tell the new owner about the sewage treatment system with all service records. Properly kept records showing servicing and warranty will also help sell the property.
If you stop using your treatment system make sure it’s decommissioned properly
Additional rules after 1st January 2015 (for any installations after this date)
Check if you can connect to a nearby public foul sewer
Get building regulations and planning approval (if required)
Make sure the discharge point is not in or near protected sites (within 500m) of:
- SSSI
- Special protection areas
- Ramsar wetlands
- Designated bathing area
- Protected shellfish water or fresh water pearl mussel population
- 200m of an aquatic local nature reserve
- 50m of chalk river or aquatic local wildlife site
Make sure the surface water has flow – you can not meet the GBR is you discharge to a ditch or surface water that does not contain flowing water through out the year or seasonally dry up.
Make sure your partial drainage field is close enough to the watercourse.
Do not discharge to an enclosed lake or pond.
Additional rules after 2nd October 2023 (for any installations after this date)
Make sure your new discharge does not use the same discharge point as any other discharge if the combined volume would exceed the GBR limit.
Make sure your discharge is not within 50m of any other exempt small sewage discharge.
What do I need to do if I do not meet the general binding rules?
If you cannot meet the general binding rules, don’t fret, West Country Drainage Services can assist you. Our office staff are experienced with the application process and have close working relationships with the Environmental Agency (EA) directly. We can handle your application for you, including the whole process and answering any queries directly with the EA on your behalf.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the permit take?
The permit does take a while, so patience is key as the permit will typically take between 4 months – 6 months to achieve.
What happens if the permit is denied?
We have never had a permit denied however the EA may make suggestion’s for alternative solutions.
I live by flood defences do I require a separate permit?
Yes a FRAP (flood risk activity permit) will be required additionally.
Do we need any other permissions other than the EA discharge team?
If you are building a new build or a new connection you will need to check with the local planning team to see if you need planning approval. We also may need to consult with the Local drainage board for some applications.
I am still unsure if we meet the general binding rules…
