Licensing & treatment variability among WWTPs in the monitoring criteria for priority chemicals leading to emission factors project

A system for the licensing of waste water discharges from areas served by local authority sewer networks was introduced in 2007 and will require all WWTP to obtain a waste water discharge licence from the EPA by set dates depending on the population equivalent (PE) of the area served by the sewer network. The licensing gives effect to a number of EU Directives, imposing restrictions or prohibitions on the discharge of dangerous substances to receiving water bodies.