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  • Discharge of hot tub and swimming pool effluent less than or equal to 10m³ per day

Discharge of hot tub and swimming pool effluent less than or equal to 10m³ per day

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This activity applies to the discharge of less than or equal to 10 cubic metres (m3) per day, cumulatively, of any of the following or a combination of any of the following:

  1. swimming pool effluent to the water environment;
  2. hot tub effluent, from a site with more than one hot tub, to groundwater;
  3. hot tub effluent from a site to a surface water.

Authorisation level

Registration

Fit and Proper Person tests

Fit and Proper Person tests apply to this activity. You will be asked in your application if you have any relevant convictions held by you or any additional persons.

Read more about Fit and Proper Person tests

Fees and charges

An application fee applies to the application of a new authorisation for this activity.

Read our charging information for further information on application and annual activity fees.

Information on the application fees to transfer, vary or surrender a registration that authorises this activity, is in our charging information.

Standard conditions

Your registration application will only be granted if you can confirm you are able to comply with the standard conditions set out below.

If you carry out an activity under a registration authorisation you must comply with the standard conditions. It is an offence if you do not comply with the conditions.

SEPA will not authorise this activity if it poses an unacceptable risk to the environment.

  1. The discharge must not result in the introduction of substances or heat to the water environment, which may cause harm to the water environment.

  2. The discharge must not have a significant impact on any supply of water for human consumption that was in existence on the date of application for this authorisation.

  3. Prior to being discharged, the effluent must:

    1. be de-brominated or de-chlorinated if there is chlorine or bromine in the effluent; and
    2. have a pH of no less than 6 and no more than 9.

  4. Any discharge of effluent to a surface water must:

    1. have a temperature of less than 20 degrees centigrade; and
    2. be via a partial soakaway with a high level overflow.

  5. Any partial soakaway must have a minimum area, in square metres (m²), of 10 multiplied by the total number of hot tubs and swimming pools discharging to that partial soakaway.

  6. The discharge must not be directly into groundwater.

  7. Any soakaway must be located 50 metres or more from any spring, well or borehole that supplies water for human consumption that was in existence on the date of application for this authorisation.

How to apply

In this section you can find out how to apply for a new authorisation and how to apply for a variation, transfer and surrender of an existing authorisation.

New applications

You can apply for a new registration for this activity using our digital application service.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

Step 3: Submit using our digital application service

You can submit your completed application using our digital application service.

Make an application for a new authorisation

You can apply to vary an existing registration for this activity. Please note, this is the same activity form as applying for a new registration or transferring an existing one.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

  • R-WAT-B1 - Discharge of hot tub or swimming pool effluent where the volume is less than or equal to 10m³/day

Step 2: Submit your application for a variation

Make an application to vary an authorisation

You can apply to transfer an existing registration for this activity. Please note, this is the same activity form as applying for a new registration or varying an existing one.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

  • R-WAT-B1 - Discharge of hot tub or swimming pool effluent where the volume is less than or equal to 10m³/day

Step 2: Submit your application

Read Transfer an existing authorisation to find out how to submit your application for a transfer.

To apply to surrender an existing registration that authorises this activity, read Surrender an existing authorisation

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