1. Home
  2. Regulation
  3. Authorisations and compliance
  4. EASR authorisations
  5. Water activities
  6. Discharges
  7. Discharge of sewage effluent
  8. New sewage discharge from less than or equal to 10 domestic properties or 50 population equivalent

Back to New sewage discharge from less than or equal to 10 domestic properties or 50 population equivalent

  • Discharge to soakaway from ≤ 3 properties or 15 p.e. where the soil percolation value is more than 15 s/mm

Discharge to soakaway from ≤ 3 properties or 15 p.e. where the soil percolation value is more than 15 s/mm

Table of contents
Select a section to jump to:
Select a section to jump to:

Activity description

The discharge of sewage from:

  1. less than or equal to 3 domestic properties; or
  2. non-domestic properties with a total population equivalent of less than or equal to 15; or
  3. a combination of domestic and non-domestic properties with a total population equivalent of less than or equal to 15;

to full soakaway where:

  1. the soil percolation value is more than 15 seconds per millimetre; and
  2. the soakaway is not within a phosphate sensitive catchment.

Standard conditions

The set of Standard Conditions for this activity has the following reference EASR-SC-063.

  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 must be maintained so that it is fully functioning except during any period when maintenance work is being carried out to the system.
  3. The discharge must not be directly into groundwater.
  4. The 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.
  5. 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.

Interpretation of terms for Discharge to soakaway from ≤ 3 properties or 15 p.e. where the soil percolation value is more than 15 s/mm

A measure of how long it takes liquid to filter through the surrounding soil.

A catchment of a freshwater loch which is at risk of significant nutrient enrichment. These are the catchments of:

  • Loch Leven (Perth and Kinross Council).
  • Lunan Lochs (Perth and Kinross Council).
  • Loch Flemington (highland Council).

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.

A type of infiltration system for the treatment and dispersion of effluent into the ground.

Water that may be ingested by humans, used in the preparation of food or drink, or used in the cleaning of materials involved in the storage or consumption of food or drink.

 Includes a permeable underground collection tank.