The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the chief statutory body in Ireland for protecting and improving Ireland’s environment. The EPA plays key roles in environmental regulation and the provision of knowledge and advocacy for the environment. The EPA investigates complaints of pollution, and enforces environmental laws, both directly and by way of its oversight of the environmental functions of local authorities. Details of all prosecutions taken by the EPA for pollution incidents and details of its enforcement activities are published on the EPA's website www.epa.ie/enforcement/).
Local Authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) each have legal responsibility for the control of pollution through the regulation of emissions to the environment. Effluent discharges to waters are regulated by the EPA or local authorities through licensing depending on the type, nature and size of the discharge.
All discharges to the aquatic environment from sewerage systems owned, managed and operated by Irish Water require a waste water discharge licence or certificate of authorisation from the EPA. Irish Water?is required to apply to the EPA for a licence or certificate of?authorisation?for all agglomerations.
The authorisation process requires the EPA to undertake a rigorous assessment and place appropriate conditions on the operation of such discharges to prevent pollution. In overall terms, the aim is to achieve good surface water and ground water status in addition to complying with standards and objectives established for associated protected areas in accordance with relevant European legislation including the Water Framework Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
An application for a waste water discharge (WWD) licence (or review of a licence) must satisfy legislative requirements, largely set out in the European Union (Waste Water Discharge) Regulations 2020. The EPA produces its own guidance notes as necessary to assist licensees fulfil the requirements of its licensing processes. Details are available on www.epa.ie/publications/
Trade discharges to water are licensable under the Local Government Water Pollution Act 1977 (as amended). The Local Authority Services National Training Group, through its Water and Environment Groups, coordinates the development and delivery of training to the best international standards for local authority staff involved in the provision of services.
