WASTEWATER LEGISLATION COMPLIANCE
Changes to wastewater legislation: is your business at risk?
The Environment Agency now has greater powers to impose sanctions on businesses that fail to meet compliance agreements and commit environmental offences.
Changes to The Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010 and The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 allow the Environment Agency to:
Impose unlimited fines: The £250,000 cap has been removed, meaning unlimited variable monetary penalties can now be applied.
Enforce penalties more quickly and easily: Whereas criminal prosecutions are costly and time-consuming, new enforcement powers make it easier for the Environment Agency to impose penalties.
Target a wider range of environmental offences: The changes have significantly broadened Environment Agency’s scope, allowing it to target a wider range of environmental offences across more sectors, including:
• Manufacturing
• Power generation and other combustion processes
• Storage, treatment, use and disposal of waste, including
scrap metal
• Discharges to surface water and groundwater
• Radioactive substances
• Activities using solvents
• Mining and extractive industries
Impose stricter limits on heavy metal precipitants:
The Environment Agency aims to reduce the impact of metals in our water systems.
As a result, consent to discharge levels for heavy metals are being lowered.
Our Solutions
Case study: Rimex
Sulphate treatment upgrades to help a client meet their compliance to consent limits.
The cost of non-compliance is now greater than ever
These changes to wastewater legislation mean that if a business commits an environmental offence they now risk a potentially huge fine, not to mention the reputational damage associated with wastewater pollution.
Indeed, since the changes came into force in December 2023, we have already seen the Environment Agency impose the new penalties in cases of untreated or poorly treated wastewater.
The environmental impact of untreated wastewater
Industrial wastewater, particularly when laden with toxic metals, has far-reaching consequences:
Ecosystem damage: Polluted water harms aquatic plants and animals, disrupting delicate ecosystems.
Human health risks: Contaminated water can enter drinking supplies or agricultural systems, endangering communities.
Greenhouse gas emissions: Poorly managed wastewater systems can contribute to carbon and methane emissions.
The cost of inaction is too great. Businesses must take proactive steps to mitigate their environmental impact and align with evolving regulatory expectations.
Aqua Advice can help your
business comply with the
new wastewater legislation
As wastewater treatment experts, Aqua Advice can help you meet these new wastewater compliance demands and avoid costly fines.
We will:
Provide compliance solutions for every business:
With over 30 years in the wastewater treatment industry, we work with businesses across many sectors to ensure they meet their compliance obligations and offer permitting & regulatory support to help them meet local and national discharge regulations.
If the recent changes to compliance legislation mean your business is now at risk of non-compliance, you can feel confident that we have the skills to get your treatment system on track.
Ensure your wastewater treatment systems are working to their optimum:
We will assess your existing treatment processes and recommend improvements to make your treatment plant more effective, such as:
- Improved monitoring
- Improved wastewater treatment plants, including bespoke replacement plants and turnkey solutions
- Changes to wastewater treatment process and control
- Ongoing support to ensure your treatment facility continues to work efficiently and meet your compliance obligations.
Design innovative treatment solutions for heavy metal removal:
Aqua Advice has developed innovative techniques for removing heavy metals and we can design a suitable treatment method to help you meet your compliance requirements.
This will not only reduce the risk of heavy metal pollution but will also help reduce the day-to-day costs of your wastewater treatment.
Act now to protect your business from the cost of non-compliance
The changes to wastewater legislation are an opportunity to ensure your business has the right treatment systems to meet your compliance demands and avoid damaging fines.
Contact Aqua Advice today to arrange a free no-obligation consultation.
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