Discharge within a zone to protect shellfish waters or bathing waters
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Activity description
The discharge of sewage from:
- less than or equal to 10 domestic properties; or
- non-domestic properties with a total population equivalent of less than or equal to 50; or
- a combination of domestic and non-domestic properties with a total population equivalent of less than or equal to 50;
to a watercourse, coastal or transitional waters within a zone to protect:
- shellfish waters; or
- bathing waters.
Standard conditions
The set of Standard Conditions for this activity has the following reference EASR-SC-070.
- The sewage must be treated:
- by a system that is designed to meet no more than 500 Escherichia coli per 100 millilitres of sewage effluent and 200 intestinal enterococci per 100 millilitres of sewage effluent; or
- by a secondary treatment system and a proprietary filtration system using bio-fibrous media.
- 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.
- 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.
- The discharge must not have a significant impact on the water environment as a result of:
- iridescence or sheen;
- discolouration;
- deposition of solids;
- increased foaming; or
- microbiological growth.
- 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 within a zone to protect shellfish waters or bathing waters
A sewage treatment system that treats sewage to a higher standard than a septic tank. It normally involves biological treatment and secondary settlement to reduce the biodegradable organic matter.
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.
- 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.