Water Management

Why is it necessary to obtain a discharge consent?

It has been a legal requirement to obtain the consent of the Department before making a discharge to a waterway or to underground stratum since 1973 when the Water Act Northern Ireland 1972 was introduced. The Water Act was replaced in 2001 by The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 but the requirement to obtain a consent remains unchanged.

I have an old house with a septic tank - do I need a discharge consent?

Yes, if a discharge is currently being made from a septic tank, a discharge consent is required even if your house was built before the legislation was introduced in 1973.

How do I apply for a domestic discharge consent?

You can obtain an application form by contacting Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) on: 028 9263 3489 or alternatively, the form WO2(.PDF 243.4Kb) is available to download from the NIEA website.

Why do I have to pay an annual charge for my discharge consent?

The Department is required to recover the costs associated with consent compliance monitoring, checking and assessment. This takes the form of an annual charge and it applies to certain categories of consent for trade, sewage, or site drainage discharges. Discharges from single domestic dwellings are not currently liable for annual charges. Full details are contained in the Charging Scheme(.PDF 1.61Mb).

Who do I contact to have my septic tank cleaned out?

Northern Ireland Water, Tel: 0845 744 0088 (Waterline number)

Who do I contact about a burst water main?

Northern Ireland Water- Tel: 0845 744 0088 (Waterline number)

Who do I contact about flooding?

The flooding incident line for Northern Ireland is 0300 2000 100. By calling the floodline, your call will be logged and passed on to the relevant agency. Lines are open 24 hours a day, all year round and calls are charged at a local rate.