Trade Effluent - Liquid Waste & Trade Effluent Consents

The standards  South West Water apply in the trade effluent consents are also designed to achieve compliance with limits that are applied in the receiving sewage treatment works final discharge to the environment, which is controlled by the Environment Agency.

The trade effluent consent is a legally binding document specific to each customer, premises and process from which the trade effluent is discharged. The consent controls or limits the discharge by specifying:

Additional controls may be imposed on harmful or toxic substances. Depending on the nature of your process, or your discharge history there may be stated limits on the following:

If your business plans to discharge effluent into any public foul sewer within South West Water's sewer network, you must get permission before any discharge takes place. Charges are based on the volume and strength of the discharge.

Industrial and businesses premises discharging directly into the environment are legally required to obtain a permit from the Environment Agency.

To apply for a trade effluent consent, complete the preliminary details form or Contact South West Water for further advice. The trade effluent map indicates which area you need to send the completed form to. The addresses are shown at the bottom of the preliminary details form.

Premises such as restaurants, hotels, caravan parks, hospitals, schools and colleges are not usually classed as trade effluent.