Effluent Discharge Licencing under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977.  

When is an effluent discharge licence required?

An effluent discharge licence under Section 4 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 is required if:

  • There are discharges of effluent directly to surface waters, whether domestic or commercial/industrial
  • All commercial/industrial discharges to groundwaters (including via a percolation area) and domestic effluent discharges that are greater than 5m3/day.

Are there exemptions to licensing ?

A Section 4 licence is not required for domestic sewage which does not exceed a volume of 5m3 in any period of 24 hours which is discharged to groundwaters from a septic tank or wastewater treatment plant by means of a percolation area.

A licence is also not required for the discharge of domestic sewage to sewers. Large industrial or agricultural activities may require an Integrated Pollution Control Licence from the Environmental Protection Agency. Details of the classes of activities which require an Integrated Pollution Control Licence are available at the EPA website.

Any commercial or industrial premises that is discharging to the public sewer may require a discharge licence under Section 16 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977. Whilst Section 16 licencing was previously under the remit of Monaghan County Council this is no longer the case. Section 16 licensing is now under the remit of Irish Water.

Who currently holds a licence?

The following is a listing of premises in County Monaghan that presently hold an effluent discharge licence under Section 4 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977

List of Current Premises in County Monaghan

 

How do I apply for an effluent discharge licence?

Application forms and guidance notes for discharge to surface waters and discharge to groundwater can be downloaded below. To apply for a Section 4 discharge licence under Section 4 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 please note the following steps.

It is essential to read or refer to these guidance documents prior to filling out the application form:

Guidance to Applicant – Discharge to Surface Waters (Word Doc.)

If the effluent is domestic, commercial or industrial and is going to be discharged to surface waters, please download and print the following document:

Discharge To Surface Waters Application Form (Word Doc)

If the effluent is commercial, industrial or a domestic discharge of more than 5m3 per day to groundwater (including via a percolation area), please use the following document:

Discharge To Groundwater Application Form (Word Doc)

Step 2

You will be required to publish a notice in a newspaper circulating in the functional area of Monaghan County Council of your intention to submit an effluent discharge licence to Monaghan County Council.

To find out what a notice needs to include, please refer to the guidance document.

The licence application must be submitted to Monaghan County Council within 2 weeks of the date of the publication of the newspaper notice.

Step 3

Complete the form and send one signed original and 3 hard copies it to the following address along with all supporting documentation.

 Environmental Services, Monaghan County Council, Riverside Road, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, A81 HY83

 

Reviewing and Existing Section 4 Discharge licence.

Existing discharge licences can be reviewed. This review can be initiated either by Monaghan County Council or the licensee. If any licensee intends to initiate a license review they are advised to contact the Environmental Services section of Monaghan County Council in advance of progressing any such  review.

 

How do I apply for an effluent discharge licence review?

The Discharge Licence Review Application Forms are available below. Licensees are advised to consult the guidance documents for new applications prior to filling in a review application form as the information provided is also beneficial to the review application process.

Discharge To Surface Waters Review Application Form (Word Doc)

Discharge To Groundwaters Review Application Form (Word Doc)

 

If you have any further questions or queries regarding discharge licences, please contact Environmental Services.