Effluent Compliance with Discharge Consents: 1996/97 to 2006
Percentage Compliance
Samples complying with relevant standards (Percentage) |
Type of discharge consent | 1996/97 | 1999/00 | 2000/01 | 2004 14 | 2005 | 2006 |
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Trade discharge | 74 | 80 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 80 |
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Public sewage | 78 | 86 | 89 | 91 | 88 | 90 |
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Private sewage | 51 | 70 | 78 | 80 | 75 | 80 |
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Other discharges 15 | 87 | 93 | 93 | 96 | 94 | 100 |
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All discharges | 73 | 82 | 86 | 87 | 85 | 86 |
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Under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 it was an offence to cause or knowingly permit discharge of poisonous, noxious or polluting substances to controlled waters in Scotland. Discharges of sewage and trade effluent into the water environment (including all coastal and inland waters) were, however, permitted under a discharge consent authorised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( SEPA). Authorisations contained conditions on both the quality and quantity of effluent permitted. SEPA controlled these discharges through licensing and monitoring; the CoPA provisions have with effect from April 2006 been replaced by the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.
The overall compliance rate increased from 73% in 1996-1997 to 86% in 2006, an increase of 1 percentage point compared to 2005. Compliance rates for trade effluent rose by 6 percentage points since 1996-1997 to 80% in 2006 compared with a 12 percentage point rise for public sewage works to 90%. SEPA set a target of 95% compliance for licences issued under the Control of Pollution Act by 2003/2004. The overall compliance rate takes account of both instantaneous standards and 12 month standards. 16
Source: Scottish Environment Protection Agency