« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
water
Effluent Compliance with Discharge Consents: 1996/1997 to 2004
Samples complying with relevant standards (Percentage)
Type of discharge consent | 1996/97 | 1999/00 | 2000/01 | 2002 | 2003 13 | 2004 |
|---|
Trade discharge | 74 | 80 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 84 |
|---|
Public sewage | 78 | 86 | 89 | 89 | 88 | 91 |
|---|
Private sewage | 51 | 70 | 78 | 72 | 74 | 80 |
|---|
Other discharges 14 | 87 | 93 | 93 | 92 | 98 | 96 |
|---|
All discharges | 73 | 82 | 86 | 85 | 86 | 87 |
|---|
Point source sewage effluent is the most common source of pollution affecting tidal waters in Scotland.
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 contain conditions on both the quality and quantity of effluent permitted. SEPA control these discharges through licensing and monitoring; the CoPA provisions have with effect from April 2006 been replaced by the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.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 1996/97 to 87% in 2004. The compliance rate for trade effluent rose by 10 percentage points since 1996/97 to 84% in 2004 compared with a 13 percentage point rise for public sewage works to 91%. SEPA set a target of 95% compliance for licences issued under the Control of Pollution Act by 2003/04. The overall compliance rate takes account of both instantaneous standards and 12 month standards. 15
SOURCE: SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY
« Previous | Contents | Next »