Polski
We wrote about the consent to discharge industrial wastewater into another entity’s sewer system in a previous issue ofWater Matters. But what if we can’t tap into the sewer system and are doomed to take our wastewater to a third-party treatment plant. This time we will look at obtaining permission to take (by slurry tanker) industrial wastewater and transfer it to another entity’s sewer system.
An exceptional case for the introduction of industrial wastewater containing particularly harmful substances into the sewerage facilities is its delivery to the sewerage disposal station by a special septic tanker truck. In this situation, you need a water permit.
Only the trucking of non-hazardous domestic and municipal wastewater to a treatment plant or a transfer station is not subject to the requirement for a water permit. But in this case, sewage disposal is carried out only by authorized entities with a permit from the municipality and a contract with the recipient of the sewage.
Step I. Before you proceed with your intention
The discharge of industrial wastewater, containing particularly harmful substances, into sewerage facilities owned by others is classified, according to the Water Law, as a special use of water. This activity requires a water permit without exception. This means that if you discharge industrial wastewater via a slurry fleet, that is, you take it away in a special vehicle, you must have a water permit.
Remember!
If you are simultaneously operating a septic tank service business, you must apply for a permit from the city or municipality where you will be operating it.
If you don’t have your own sewage hauler, use the services of the entity to which you haul your wastewater, or another one licensed to operate in your municipality.
Step II. Necessary documents
Gather the necessary documents and apply for a water permit to put wastewater into the sewer system. A permit, according to Article 389 of the Water Law, is required for the use of water, that is, in this case, for the introduction (disposal) of wastewater into the sewage system of another entity.
A water permit is issued upon application for a water permit. You will obtain them from the relevant unit of the Water Authority. If the wastewater comes from the operation of an installation associated with projects that may always have a significant impact on the environment, you will obtain a permit from the Regional Administration. If you are engaged in activities that do not fall into this group – at the nearest catchment area board.
The fee for issuing a water permit is PLN 250.00 and should be paid to the account of the Polish Water Authority.
Attach to the application for a permit a water supply operation – prepared in writing, in descriptive and graphic form, as well as on computer storage media as a text document.
The operative must meet the requirements set forth in Art. 409 para. 1 and paragraph. 2 of the Water Law, and the descriptive part should be tailored to the type of activity to which the water permit applies. The operative must contain all the information indicated in Art. 409 para. 1 and paragraph. 2. If any of the points does not apply to the introduction of wastewater, the operative should state “not applicable.” Omission or deletion will result in a call for supplemental documentation.
Remember!
An application for a water permit for the introduction of industrial wastewater containing substances particularly harmful to the aquatic environment into sewerage facilities shall be accompanied by the consent of the owner of such facilities or a wastewater collection agreement with the owner of the facilities in effect as of the date of the application.
The content of the operative, on the basis of which a water permit is issued for the discharge of wastewater into sewerage facilities, is supplemented by paragraph. 4 Art. 409 of the Water Law. It expands the information to include data specific to this form of use and indicates that the document should include, among other things:
- technological scheme with mass balance and types of materials, raw materials and fuels used relevant to environmental requirements;
- permissible quantities of polluting substances, in particular, the quantities of substances particularly harmful to the aquatic environment, expressed in mass units per unit of raw material, material, fuel or resulting product used, and the expected method and effect of their treatment;
- Determination of the condition and composition of industrial wastewater fed into the combined sewer systems supplying wastewater to the treatment plant;
- information on the manner and scope of conducting measurements of the quantity and quality of wastewater discharged into sewerage facilities.
Operat mark the date of its execution. It is also important to include a description of the project. It must not contain specialized terms.
Remember!
In this particular case, the permit is issued for a period not exceeding the term of the contract with the owner of the equipment.
Court rulings in this regard indicate that if the contract is concluded for a fixed period, the water permit granted may not exceed this period. The arrangements of the agreement are binding on the authority competent to issue a water permit.
Step III. Works and operation
You can proceed with implementation with all other applicable regulations.
Remember!
For the introduction/removal by slurry tanker of industrial wastewater containing particularly harmful substances into the sewerage facilities of another entity, the Water Authority does not charge a fee.
