Waste Water and Trade Effluent Charges

Negotiation of water, wastewater and trade effluent charges requires a detailed knowledge of how water is consumed and how the waste water and trade effluent is discharged on each site. Blizzard can undertake a detailed site-by-site survey of each water and waste water system to establish water usage and effluent discharge.

The Water Industries Act 2002 requires companies discharging liquid effluent or wastewater to a sewer to obtain a trade effluent discharge consent from the appropriate authority, usually the water company or sewerage undertaker. These bodies are required by law to accept effluent as long as it conforms to certain standards, and they are allowed to levy a charge appropriate to the service provided.

The local water company will provide an analysis of discharge, perhaps on a quarterly basis, and this may serve as the basis for deriving the trade effluent charge. The charge for treatment of effluent will be derived using a specialised industry calculation called a modified Mogden Formula. Parameters that affect the final charge include total volume flow, the average chemical oxygen demand or Biological oxygen demand, and the average suspended solids concentration.

Volume flow of effluent is the most important factor in determining charges, but it is very common for effluent flows not to be measured. In such circumstances the volume of effluent is assumed to be the same as the volume of water purchased, as recorded on the site’s incoming water meter and which can therefore lead to overcharging.

Blizzard’s service includes:

Taking steps to reduce your water consumption
Measuring or making reliable estimates effluent flows
Applying for necessary trade effluent consents
calculating savings and negotiating with relevant suppliers
Full reporting of results
Tracking the amended billing
Conducting 6 monthly reviews.

UtilityTrak™ is fully compatible with water and waste water consumption and management, and can produce a full range of suitable reports to manage water and waste water for our clients.