Does the proposed development require a discharge licence
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Under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 & 1990, certain activities require a licence to discharge either to the public sewer or to waters. It is an offence to discharge to a public sewer or waters without a licence. The onus is on the person causing the discharge to apply to the Environment Section of the County Council for such a licence. Failure to comply with the licensing requirements may result in prosecution. If you are in any doubt as to whether your development requires a discharge licence, contact the Environment Section of Limerick County Council on 061 49 62 64.
Licence applications should be made prior to construction and a licence should be in place before any discharge occurs.
Discharges to Sewers:
Under Section 16 of the Water Pollution Acts, a licence is required to discharge trade effluent to the public sewer. If you run a business of any type and are connected to the sewer, it is likely that you will require a licence.
Discharges to Waters:
In general, all effluent discharges to rivers, lakes, drains or groundwater bodies require licensing under Section 4 of the Water Pollution Acts. The only exemption is small volume discharges of domestic effluent (e.g. from a single house) to ground via a septic tank/treatment system and percolation area. In the absence of a licence, the discharge of septic tank or treatment system effluent directly to a river, drain or other water body is illegal.
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