• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Call Me Back
  • About
  • Knowledge
📞 Call us on 0330 223 31 31
Water Treatment Services
  • Home
  • Water
    • Applications
      • Boiler Water Treatment
      • Cooling Water Treatment
      • Closed Loop Water Treatment
      • Legionella Control
    • Services
      • Cooling Tower Cleaning
      • Cooling Tower Maintenance
      • Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment
      • Commercial Water Softeners
      • Expert Witness Services
      • Pre-Commission Cleaning
      • Tank Reline & Repair
      • TMV Servicing
      • Water Chlorination & Disinfection
      • Water Leak Detection
      • Water Testing
        • Drinking Water Testing
        • Metals Testing
        • Pool Water Testing
        • BSRIA Closed System Testing
        • SDI Testing & Analysis
        • Trade Effluent Testing
    • Training
      • Water Treatment Training
      • Basic Chemistry of Water
      • Industrial Treatment
      • Pre-Treatment
      • Boiler Treatment
      • Cooling Systems
      • Closed Systems
      • Wastewater Training
      • Advanced Treatments
      • Training Dates 2021
  • Wastewater
    • Metals Testing
    • Trade Effluent Testing
    • Wastewater Training
    • Expert Witness Services
  • Air
    • Ductwork Cleaning
    • Indoor Air Quality
    • Local Exhaust Ventilation Testing
    • Mould Testing
    • Expert Witness Services
  • Energy
  • Legionella
    • Legionella Risk Assessment
    • Legionella Training Courses
      • Legionella Awareness Training
      • Responsible Person Training
      • Water Hygiene Awareness
      • Pseudomonas Training
      • Training Dates 2021
    • Legionella Testing
    • Expert Witness Services
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / Water2 / Trade Effluent Testing

Trade Effluent Testing & Wastewater Analysis

Trade effluent testingWater Treatment Services is a leading environmental engineering and consulting specialist offering expert industrial wastewater solutions including trade effluent testing and analysis for an extensive range of wastewater contaminants including metals, chemical, microbiological and physical parameters.

In the UK trade effluent is defined as any liquid waste, other than domestic sewage or rainwater run-off, which comes from a business or industrial process and is discharged into a public sewer.

It’s important to understand that the Water Industry Act 1991 requires any business that wishes to discharge effluent into a public sewer to obtain a formal discharge consent from their local water authority.

A discharge consent is a legal document which will stipulate a number of conditions that must be met, including those that control the quality and quantity of any effluent produced and then discharged.

Expert wastewater analysis and trade effluent testing

Our laboratory wastewater analysis and trade effluent testing solutions support a wide range of industry sectors both in the UK and internationally and include:

  • Laboratory Wastewater Analysis

    Specialist laboratory analysis of wastewater and trade effluent to UKAS ISO/IEC 17025. Tests available for an extensive range of toxic metals, chemical, microbiological and physical parameters.

  • In-field Sampling

    Expert in-field wastewater sampling and support.

  • Monitoring & Validation

    Latest in-field analysis equipment to monitor and validate wastewater treatment programme performance.

  • Expert Solutions

    Wastewater specialists available to review and interpret test results advising clients on the optimisation of treatment and discharge processes, to target reductions in trade effluent disposal costs.

  • Wastewater Treatment

    With specially trained engineers and wastewater treatment specialists we can offer professional, cost effective support for the design, implementation and management of innovative trade effluent solutions.

Full national UK cover

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained technicians, in-field specialists and wastewater consultants we can offer professional, cost effective water testing and laboratory analysis solutions across the whole of the UK and internationally.

Contact Water Treatment Services today to learn how our expert wastewater solutions can help you meet your discharge consent obligations, optimise your liquid waste processes and reduce your costs.

To speak with one of our specialists call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use the button below.

Contact Us Today

Testing wastewater and trade effluent for multiple parameters

Water Treatment Services offer a wide range of trade effluent testing procedures to UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 that cover the most common control parameters identified in the conditions of a discharge consent.

Our trade effluent analysis solutions include the following parameters and more:

  • Alkalinity

  • Ammonia

  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

  • Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

  • Cyanide (Hydrogen Cyanide)

  • Dissolved Methane

  • Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

  • Electrical Conductivity

  • Fats, Oil and Grease

  • Flammable Substances

  • Hydrogen Sulphide

  • Organic Analysis (Pesticides, Herbicides and Hydrocarbons)

  • PH

  • Phenols

  • Sulphate

  • Suspended Solids

  • Toxic Metals

  • Additional/specialist parameter tests available on request

How can trade effluent testing save you money?

UK water companies use what is called the Mogden Formula to calculate the trade effluent charges a business will incur when it disposes of its industrial effluent.

  • Learn more about the Mogden Formula

These charges are calculated using a formula that takes into account a number of variables including effluent volumes, and the type and level of contamination.

Our trade effluent and wastewater analysis solutions have been carefully developed to help you identify the presence and concentrations of these key consent related contaminants in your wastewater so you can do something about it.

let our wastewater specialists help you meet your discharge consent obligations, optimise your liquid waste processes and reduce your trade effluent costs.

This information will allow you to review and then optimise your treatment and discharge processes and so reduce the costs associated with the disposal of your trade effluent.

Industrial wastewater and trade effluent in more detail

Wastewater from many diverse sources is handled by water companies around the UK.

They are responsible for maintaining public sewers and the water that flows into them.

This water may come from households, from rainwater, and from other sources.

However, trade effluent is viewed differently from these other sources.

Here, we will discover what trade effluent is, what discharge consent is, how trade effluent testing can help you stay the right side of the law, and how these issues may apply to you and your business.

If you own or run a business in the UK, you may well be affected by the information laid out in the Water Industry Act 1991.

  • Learn more about the Water Industry Act 1991

If your business produces liquid waste as part of the various processes conducted on your premises, you may be required to obtain discharge consent to cover this effluent.

What is trade effluent?

The term trade effluent relates to wastewater generated by a trade or business, rather than that generated by normal domestic use of water in a home or residence.

However, some businesses only generate wastewater by accessing water supplies in the same manner we would do at home.

Therefore, it is important to determine whether your business creates trade effluent or not.

If it does, you will likely require discharge consent to allow the wastewater to go into the sewer system.

Do all businesses generate effluent?

Not all businesses generate trade effluent, but it can be confusing to work out whether your business does or not.

The important question you need to ask yourself is how is your wastewater created?

For example, businesses that use water in engineering processes will be classed as producing trade effluent.

A professional car washing service will also be classed a producer of trade effluent.

These and other similar processes use water in different ways compared to standard domestic waste and how that is created.

The greater the chance of other products and by-products contaminating the water, the more likely it is the wastewater would be classed as trade effluent.

To gain a greater understanding of how trade effluent is viewed, it is necessary to consider some businesses that do not fall under this category.

For instance, a hairdresser is a business, but it only produces wastewater through the normal procedure of washing hair, as we would do at home.

Therefore, it does not produce trade effluent.

The same applies to the services provided in restaurants and hotels, since these involve the regular use of kitchens, washing up, and bathroom facilities.

What is a discharge consent?

If you operate a business or produce wastewater as part of an industrial process, you are likely to require discharge consent for your trade effluent.

  • Learn more about environmental permits and discharge consents

If you obtain this consent, it means that you have permission from the relevant water company in your area to discharge your wastewater into the sewers.

The water company will therefore be aware of the water you are getting rid of and what is contained within it.

The water companies can then put measures in place to ensure the trade effluent is appropriately treated.

Trade discharges of effluent should always be made to a foul sewer or a combined sewer.

You should always check with your local water company to make sure any waste you create is discharged to the correct sewer before you do so.

You cannot make any discharges of wastewater until you have the proper discharge consent in place.

This may be a temporary or permanent consent, depending on the nature of your business and the processes taking place.

For example, a construction project taking place over 12 months may only require a temporary trade effluent discharge consent.

Why is a discharge consent required in relevant cases?

Wastewater taken from domestic properties is reasonably consistent in its quality.

It can be taken away and treated without posing any risk to the public or to staff working for the water companies.

However, the same cannot be said of many trade effluents.

When trade effluent is tested, the results will determine whether the solids and other elements present in the water are within acceptable levels.

If they are within acceptable levels, discharge consent will likely be granted.

If the levels of certain contaminants are above acceptable levels, other treatment or disposal methods will be required to get rid of the trade effluent.

In these cases, discharging effluent into the sewers would likely cause a health hazard to the public and those working at the water company.

Therefore, permission to discharge the effluent would not be granted.

How can testing your trade effluent help obtain a discharge consent?

To obtain proper consent to discharge your wastewater into the sewers, you must be able to prove what is in the wastewater, and this could include a number of contaminants:

  • Solids

  • Metals & heavy metals

  • Grease & other sources of fat

  • Pesticides

  • Cyanide

  • Flammable substances

  • Organics

This is not an exhaustive list; wastewater from business processes may contain many substances created as by-products of those processes.

Your local water company will want proof that the trade effluent your business generates and then discharges meets the standards set out in your discharge consent.

Hiring an accredited company such as Water Treatment Services to carry out trade effluent testing and analysis or your wastewater is the only way you can be sure of providing an accurate picture of the quality of the wastewater.

Regular testing of trade effluent provides peace of mind

Regular trade effluent testing also ensures the levels of various elements, metals, solids, and other contaminants within the wastewater remain at or below acceptable limits.

This type of specialist wastewater testing ensures you do not fall foul of the law regarding your wastewater treatment standards and that you can therefore continue to get your wastewater treated by your local water company.

Professional laboratory testing of wastewater and trade effluent

Water Treatment Services offer a comprehensive range of laboratory analysis solutions including the testing and analysis of wastewater and trade effluent.

Our wastewater experts can provide advice and support to help you identify the most appropriate strategies for the optimisation of your treatment and discharge processes and so reduce the costs associated with the disposal of your trade effluent.

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained technicians, in-field specialists and consultants we can offer professional, cost effective water testing and laboratory analysis solutions across the whole of the UK and internationally.

Contact us today to learn how our expert wastewater solutions can help you meet your discharge consent obligations, optimise your liquid waste processes and reduce your costs.

Contact Us Today

You may also be interested in…

Preventing mould in the workplace

How to Prevent Mould Growth in the Workplace

9 May, 2022
Read more
Can Regular Flushing Control Legionella in Hot and Cold Water?

Can Regular Flushing Control Legionella in Hot & Cold Water Systems?

23 November, 2021
Read more
What is an expert witness?

What is an Expert Witness?

16 October, 2021
Read more
Ion Exchange Water Softeners

Ion Exchange Water Softeners

22 September, 2021
Read more
How to save water at work

How to Save Water at Work & Reduce Business Water Bills

28 July, 2021
Read more
Controlling biofilm in cooling water systems

Controlling Biofilm in Cooling Water Systems

13 July, 2021
Read more
Controlling legionella in hospitals and healthcare premises

Controlling Legionella in Hospitals & Healthcare Premises

1 July, 2021
Read more
Private water supply problems

Private Water Supply Problems & What to Do

9 June, 2021
Read more
Reducing water and wastewater in brewing

Reducing Water and Wastewater in the Brewing Industry

21 May, 2021
Read more
What is Silver Hydrogen Peroxide?

What is Silver Stabilised Hydrogen Peroxide?

29 April, 2021
Read more
PreviousNext

Further reading…

More information about our wastewater treatment solutions … here →

REVIEWS

4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5
Water Treatment Services is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars (based on 97 reviews)
Read our reviews

Submit your review here

Water Treatment

  • Boiler Water Treatment
  • Cooling Water Treatment
  • Closed Loop Water Treatment
  • Legionella Control
  • Cooling Tower Cleaning
  • Cooling Tower Maintenance
  • Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment
  • Commercial Water Softeners
  • Expert Witness Services
  • Pre-Commission Cleaning
  • Tank Reline & Repair
  • TMV Servicing
  • Water Chlorination & Disinfection
  • Water Leak Detection
  • Water Testing
    • Drinking Water Testing
    • Metals Testing
    • Pool Water Testing
    • BSRIA Closed System Testing
    • SDI Testing & Analysis
    • Trade Effluent Testing
  • Water Treatment Training
    • Basic Chemistry of Water
    • Industrial Treatment
    • Pre-Treatment
    • Boiler Treatment
    • Cooling Systems
    • Closed Systems
    • Wastewater Training
    • Advanced Treatment

REVIEWS

4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5
Water Treatment Services is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars (based on 97 reviews)
Read our reviews

What’s New

  • Expert Witness & Dispute Resolution Services

    Expert Witness & Dispute Resolution Services

  • How to Prevent Mould Growth in the Workplace

    How to Prevent Mould Growth in the Workplace

    In this workplace safety review the environmental hygiene specialists …
  • How Expert Reports Help Resolve Disputes

    How Expert Reports Help Resolve Disputes

    Water Treatment Services experienced expert witnesses provide independent, impartial …
  • How Industrial Wastewater Treatment Works

    How Industrial Wastewater Treatment Works

    In this article the wastewater treatment specialists at WTS …
  • Mining Wastewater Treatment & Water Reuse

    Mining Wastewater Treatment & Water Reuse

    In this article the industrial water treatment specialists at …
  • Can Regular Flushing Control Legionella in Hot & Cold Water Systems?

    Can Regular Flushing Control Legionella in Hot & Cold Water Systems?

    In this article the legionella and water safety specialists …

Free Newsletter

Receive exciting features, news, latest research and special offers! Just add your email address and we'll do the rest.

© Copyright 2022 - EDG Ltd. Operating as Water Treatment Services
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Home
  • About
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • Environment
  • Reviews
  • Sitemap
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OK

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy
Accept settingsHide notification only