# Which licence covers a wastewater discharge in Ireland?

> Who licenses wastewater discharges in Ireland (EPA, local authorities) and how aeration helps a treatment plant meet the emission limits in its licence.

Source: https://floatingaeratorsireland.com/guides/wastewater-discharge-licences-ireland
Last updated: 2026-09-30

In Ireland, discharges from public sewer systems are authorised by the EPA under the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 684 of 2007). Industrial sites discharge under an EPA industrial emissions or IPC licence, or a local authority licence under section 4 of the Water Pollution Acts. Each sets emission limits that the treatment plant has to meet.

## Where does aeration come in?

Biological treatment relies on aerobic bacteria to remove BOD. Too little oxygen, or poor mixing, lets a lagoon or basin go septic and exceed its limits. Sizing aeration to the real load is one of the main ways a plant keeps within its licence.

## What should I have ready before an aeration upgrade?

- The current licence and its emission limits
- Recent monitoring results
- Flow and load figures, including peaks
- Basin sizes and depths

## Sources

Environmental Protection Agency, licensing and permitting (epa.ie/our-services/licensing). This guide is general information, not legal advice: check your own licence and authority.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does a private industrial site need a licence to discharge treated effluent?

Yes. Depending on the activity it is an EPA industrial emissions or IPC licence, or a section 4 licence from the local authority under the Water Pollution Acts.

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## What to do next

- Send an enquiry: https://floatingaeratorsireland.com/contact
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- Phone: 087 473 6464

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