Apply for domestic discharge consent
Under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, the discharge of trade effluent or sewage waste into any waterway, or into groundwater, requires formal consent from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. This requirement applies to all commercial, industrial and domestic premises that are not connected to the public sewer network.
Before you start
- A consent to discharge effluent from an individual domestic property may be granted by NIEA, subject to the recommendations provided by the relevant local council's Pollution Control Officer.
- Please check the Domestic Consent Public Register (DCPR) before applying.
- If you think a property already has a valid consent but it doesn't appear on the register, please contact the Water Regulation Team at consentapplication@daera-ni.gov.uk.
- A link to guidance notes can be accessed on the application pages on the top right of each page or can be found at Domestic consents discharge - guidance
Additional information
The full application process is online. If you have difficulties completing the online application or uploading documents, for example you; do not have internet access; do not have access to a device like a laptop or smartphone: or do not have a family member/friend to assist you in the application process, please refer to the guidance notes or contact consentapplication@daera-ni.gov.uk.
Further information regarding domestic discharge consents - including applicable fees and guidance documentation is available at Regulating water discharges.
Industrial consent to discharge
An industrial discharge consent is issued for discharges associated with private sewage infrastructure (including commercial activities and discharges from two or more domestic dwellings), business related effluent, site drainage, aquaculture and emergency overflow from private pumping stations.
The online process for industrial discharge consents is currently under development. Until the new service becomes available, applicants must use the application form and associated annexes to apply for these consent types.