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Industrial and Private Sewage


Industrial Consents section

Under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, the Department of Environment must give permission before any trade or sewage waste, or any other potential pollution (including site drainage) from commercial, industrial or domestic premises into waterways or underground strata.

The Industrial Consents section is made up of a team of professional scientists and administrative staff who deal with new applications for commercial and industrial discharge consents.

The discharge consents include conditions outlining the quality and quantity of waste discharges. The conditions have been drawn up to ensure that the waste can be absorbed by the receiving waterway without damaging the aquatic environment or breaching national or European Commission (EC) standards.

The Industrial Consents Section also assesses whether permitted discharges are at acceptable levels, and visits sites to carry out assessments.

Registers of discharge consents are held by us. These are open to public inspection. The results of compliance monitoring are also in the public domain.

Applying for consent

• For details about making an application for discharge consent from a single domestic dwelling view our section on Septic Tanks/Domestic Dwelling Discharges

• For details of the fees applicable view Discharge Consent Fees and Charges Scheme(.PDF 196.17Kb)Opens in new window.

• Your application will be acknowledged within three working days of receipt.

• Depending on your application, it will be processed within four months unless a time extension has been agreed.

• If your application is refused you will be told how to appeal.

Application Forms

For further information see the Applicants Guide(.PDF 133.90Kb)Opens in new window.

If you wish to apply for a New Consent, or Variation to an Existing Consent: see the Application Form - Water Order (WO) 1(.PDF 190.72Kb)Opens in new window.

Complete appropriate annex for your industry type and submit with main application form

Apply for a Sewage Discharged Under Emergency Conditions Consent - WO1 - Annex 1(.PDF 97.25Kb)Opens in new window.

Apply for a Trade Effluent and Site Drainage Discharge Consent - WO1 - Annex 2(.PDF 285.70Kb)Opens in new window.

Apply for a Fish Farming Discharge Consent - WO1 - Annex 4(.PDF 171.29Kb)Opens in new window.

Apply for a Sewage Effluent Discharge Consent - WO1 - Annex 5(.PDF 122.37Kb)Opens in new window.

Further information and advice on any aspect of water pollution prevention can be obtained from:

Northern Ireland Environment Agency
Water Management Unit
Telephone: 028 9262 3100
Fax: 028 9267 6054
E-mail: WaterInfo@doeni.gov.ukOpens in new window.