Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018: ​Proposed Standard Conditions for Registration level activities
2.1.1.8. Discharge of sewage within a zone to protect bathing and shellfish waters: Activity A8
Activity description
The discharge of sewage from:
- less than or equal to 10 domestic properties; or
- non-domestic properties with a population equivalent of less than or equal to 50; or
- a combination of domestic and non-domestic properties with a total population equivalent of less than or equal to 50;
to a watercourse, coastal or transitional waters within a zone to protect:
- shellfish water; or
- bathing waters.
Standard conditions
- The sewage must be treated by a treatment system that is designed to meet no more than 500 Escherichia coli per 100 millilitres of sewage effluent and 200 intestinal enterococci per 100 millilitres of sewage effluent.
- The treatment system and outfall pipe must be maintained so that they are fully functioning except during any period when maintenance work is being carried out.
- The discharge must not have a significant impact on any supply of water for human consumption that was in existence on the date of application for this authorisation.
- The discharge must not have a significant impact on the water environment as a result of:
(a) iridescence or sheen;
(b) discolouration;
(c) deposition of solids;
(d) increased foaming; or
(e) microbiological growth.
For the discharge of untreated sewage the following condition will be included:
- If the sewage has been discharging to the water environment for more than two years, without treatment, on the date of application for this authorisation, conditions 1 and 2 do not take effect until 12 months after the date the authorisation was granted.
Rationale
This activity applies to the discharge from a proposed treatment system or a treatment system that is less than or equal to two years old prior to the date of application.
The standard conditions are similar to those found in existing registration level water authorisations granted under CAR.
A registration will not be granted if it is reasonably practical for the property to connect to the public foul sewer or there is insufficient flow to dilute the discharge in the receiving watercourse.
A registration to discharge to coastal or transitional waters will only be granted where the outfall is permanently submerged in water unless it is not reasonably practical to do so.