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Trade effluent discharge best practices

By: Pete Cranney on Oct 3, 2024

Trade effluents  are liquid waste streams discharged into public sewers from businesses and industrial processes. Their composition is highly variable but may include substances such as chemicals and fats that can be harmful to the human health and the environment if not treated correctly.

Every company is responsible for its own waste, and there are regulations you must adhere to. Here, we outline some useful tips when it comes to managing your trade effluent discharge. 

What are your discharge options

Companies handling industrial trade effluent have three main disposal options, each with its own commercial and environmental challenges. 

Tankering effluent off-site:
This method is becoming more expensive and contributes to a larger carbon footprint. Regulatory limits on where and how tankers can dispose of waste are also narrowing, reducing available routes. Learn more about the financial and environmental costs of tankering compared to using sludge dewatering equipment, along with tips on reducing your carbon footprint here.
Discharging into public sewers:
Businesses need permission from wastewater companies under Section 118 of the Water Industry Act 1991. This option can be costly, and any breach of the agreement can result in hefty fines or operational shutdowns, often requiring expensive tankering as a backup. 
On-site effluent treatment: While treating effluent on-site allows for better control, it requires considered investment in specialised equipment and expertise. With stricter regulations from wastewater companies, businesses face increasing pressure to maintain compliance, though advanced treatment systems can ensure discharge meets all standards. 

Learn about trade effluent in more detail here

Tips for managing trade effluent

  • Obtain the necessary consent: Before discharging effluent ensure you have consent from your local wastewater authority as required under the Water Industry Act 1991.  
  • Invest in effective treatment technology: Investing in onsite treatment technologies can help ensure compliance with environmental standards and reduce reliance on tankering. 
  • Improve process control: Good process control helps to ensure that you minimise the strength of the incoming flow. Flow and load balancing, for example, can reduce shock loads on your treatment plants. You may also consider using an offline tank as a holding tank in the case of emergencies. 
  • Minimise the use of cleaning chemicals: Cleaning chemicals can be particularly damaging to the water environment, so care should be taken to minimise the amount you use. One approach is to remove as much product as possible before cleaning equipment. For example, manufacturers often implement pigging systems to push the product through the next stage of production. 
  • Cover drains: In food and beverage manufacturing, grate covers and grease traps can reduce the amount of waste entering the sewer system. Spills should never be hosed down a drain - always use a brush or hoover instead. 
  • Minimise your volume: Most consents to discharge are based on the Mogden Formula. The more you discharge and the more waste products that are sent to discharge, the greater the costs of disposal. Consider de-watering or water re-use as well as recycling plants that can provide a return on investment benefit to your business. Also consider pre-treatment of discharge. By reducing parameters such as Chemical or Biological Oxygen Demand (COD or BOD) consent charges may be significantly reduced.    
  • Maximise storage space: You can reduce the amount of sludge spread on land by ensuring adequate storage capacity for the volume of sludge your company generates. Additionally, ensuring the sludge is as dewatered as possible can significantly reduce space requirements. This can be achieved through the effective use of Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) and Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) removal processes, or by using a dewatering screw press. By doing so, not only will you optimise storage capacity, but you will also make cost savings on storage, transport, and disposal. 
  • Work with experts: Partnering with specialists can help optimise your treatment process, navigate regulations, and explore cost effective solutions for managing effluent. To find out more about how our solutions could help you get in touch here

Topics: Wastewater Treatment

Pete Cranney

Written by Pete Cranney

Pete Cranney has worked for Atana (now part of WCSEE) since 2003 and has experience across every part of the business. Specialising in food & drink manufacturing, Pete can recommend the most practical and cost-effective treatment processes, designing onsite solutions that achieve strict discharge consents. In previous roles, Pete has managed full treatment plants for clients such as PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz. He has also led on laboratory testing of client samples. In process design, Pete provides clients with the most effective blends of chemical and mechanical treatments to ensure their sites offer full environmental protection 24/7.

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