Discharge activities

Please use the table below to confirm that your discharge activity is suitable for online registration:

Sewage discharges

You can apply online for new sewage discharges from septic tanks (or equivalent) to soakaway or watercourse, from a population equivalent (p.e.)  of 15 or less.

* For new discharges to watercourse or lochs, you are strongly advised to contact SEPA to discuss treatment options before submitting your application.

* For new discharges to soakaway, you will be asked to provide the relevant Building Warrant Application Number.

You can also apply online for existing sewage discharges from septic tanks (or equivalent) in operation prior to 1 April 2006, to soakaway or watercourses from a population equivalent of 50 or less.

* Existing discharges previously regulated by a consent issued under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 (CoPA) were deemed to be already authorised under CAR on 1 April 2006. If you hold CoPA consent, you do not need to apply again under CAR. To check if your discharge has CoPA consent, please contact your local SEPA office to request a search of our records.

* If the discharge does not have a CoPA consent then an application under CAR should be made.

Please note: You are strongly advised to contact SEPA to discuss treatment options before submitting your application for the following activities:

Trade effluent Any liquid produced in the course of any trade or industry: discharge of trade effluent less than or equal to 10m3 per day and/or population equivalent of 15 or less.
Cooling waters Discharge of cooling water with no chemical additions and no Freshwater Fisheries Directive implications.
Non-commercial fish farms Discharges from a non-commercial fish farm rearing native fish. As this activity qualifies as an environmental service, you must submit a paper application accompanied by a document, supporting your claim for environmental service. Use the menu on the left to locate the paper application forms.
Commercial fish farms Discharge from commercial fish hatcheries or tank farms with less than 0.5 tonnes of annual production.

apply online