Wastewater advice and guidance

Wastewater is a term that is used to describe waste material that includes industrial liquid waste and sewage waste that is collected in towns and urban areas and treated at urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTPs) as well as sewage that comes from single houses in the countryside that is treated on-site in either septic tanks or individual wastewater treatment systems.

Wastewaters from single houses in the countryside that are not connected to sewers are generally treated on-site by septic tank systems or individual wastewater treatment systems.  The Government has introduced new legislation to control the discharges from these systems. 

• Check out our guidance on wastewater treatment systems for a single house

The urban wastewater treatment plants that are operated by the local authorities are regulated by the EPA under the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007 as amended. 

• Our licensing section contains further information on the licensing process for waste water discharge authorisation
• The EPA is required to report on the performance of urban wastewater treatment plants on a bi-annual basis, check out the most recent report.
• Check out our general guidance on wastewater treatment processes for urban wastewater treatment plants
• Guidance for local authorities on reporting and complying with Waste Water Discharge Licences and Certificates of Authorisation