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Environmental permits for discharging to surface water

We have two types of permits available:

Standard permits

These are for lower risk discharges. We don’t need to make a site-specific decision about your application provided your discharge meets the standard rules. 

There are currently two standard permits for discharges to surface water (streams, rivers, estuaries or the sea). 

1) Discharges of domestic sewage effluent to surface waters where the maximum daily discharge volume is between 5 and 20 cubic metres may be eligible for a standard permit:

2) Discharges of cooling water to surface waters where the maximum daily discharge is up to 1,000 cubic metres may be eligible for a standard permit:

Bespoke permits

These are for all other situations. We make site-specific decisions about whether to grant the permit, and about what permit conditions will be required to protect the environment. For application forms and guidance on applying for bespoke permits, please go to the link below:

What happens if you fail apply for a permit or to meet the conditions of your permit?

Operating without a valid permit or failing to comply with the conditions of a permit is a criminal offence. It is also an offence to make an exempt discharge without registering it. 

If you make a discharge without a registration or permit, or you breach a permit condition, we will follow our Enforcement and Prosecution Policy to decide what action to take, which could, in serious cases, include prosecution.

You should read our document 'How to comply with your Environmental Permit', for more information. You will find this on our generic guidance page: