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  • Discharge to coastal and transitional waters

Discharge to coastal and transitional waters

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Activity description

The discharge of sewage from:

  1. less than or equal to 10 domestic properties; or
  2. non-domestic properties with a total population equivalent of less than or equal to 50; or
  3. a combination of domestic and non-domestic properties with a total population equivalent of less than or equal to 50;

to coastal or transitional waters outside a zone to protect:

  1. shellfish waters; or
  2. bathing waters.

Standard conditions

The set of Standard Conditions for this activity has the following reference EASR-SC-069.

  1. The sewage must be treated:
    1. by a septic tank; or
    2. to a standard that is better than that provided by a septic tank.
  2. The treatment system and outfall pipe must be maintained so that they are fully functioning except during any period when maintenance work is being carried out.
  3. The discharge must not have a significant impact on the water environment as a result of:
    1. iridescence or sheen;
    2. discolouration;
    3. deposition of solids;
    4. increased foaming; or
    5. microbiological growth.
  4. If the sewage has been discharging to the water environment for more than two years, without treatment, on the date of application for this authorisation, conditions 1 and 2 do not take effect until 12 months after the date the authorisation was granted.

Interpretation of terms for Discharge to coastal and transitional waters

The maximum daily organic biodegradable sewage load. A population equivalent of one has a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 60 grams of oxygen per day, which is equivalent to one person in a domestic property.

  • Any surface water designated by the Scottish Ministers under Regulation 3 of the Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008) as a bathing water; or
  • a buffer zone around any surface water designated by the Scottish Ministers under Regulation 3 of the Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008 as a bathing water. The buffer zone is 1500m as measured along the coast and/or up the river unless they have been extended because bacteria die-off may not have sufficiently taken place. Where this is the case it will be detailed in the bathing water improvement plan.

  • An area of coastal water or transitional water designated as a shellfish water protected area under section 5A of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (“shellfish water protected area”; or
  • watercourses that drain into the protected area up to 1500m inland of the shellfish water protected area; or
  • a Classified Shellfish Harvesting area where the harvesting is for common mussels, pacific oyster, common cockles, carpet clams, pullet carpet shell or surf clams. A Classified Shellfish Harvesting area is an area classified as such by the Food Standards Agency; or
  • a buffer zone, as measured 1500m along the coast and/or up the river, from the Classified Shellfish Harvesting area where the harvesting is for common mussels, pacific oyster, common cockles, carpet clams, pullet carpet shell or surf clams.