OGE provides all services related to discharge licences for surface water and groundwater. For discharges to surface water see also our Surface Water/Hydrology Section including Flood Risk Assessment, Assimilative Capacity, Q-rating, Hydrological Reports and SUDS.

Discharge Licences are required for all developments discharging >5m cubed of treated effluent per day. For a housing development this equates to approximately 5 houses with 5 persons per house or more.

To obtain a discharge licence to ground the following is required;

• Desk study to determine geology, hydrogeology, groundwater vulnerability

• Well survey to identify neighbouring wells

• Well installation (2 - 3), if none are present in the area

• Water analysis

• Site Assessment and Percolation Testing

OGE has extensive experience in discharge licences and specialises in difficult applications. OGE prefers to follow the Wexford County Council Guidelines for water Pollution Licencing & Discharge of Effluent to Waters Advice note 3, January 2008, in undertaking discharge licences. See brochure on summary of guidelines.

See also Update on Discharge Licence Requirements for Kildare County Council

Site suitability assessments and percolation testing can be undertaken as part of discharge licences to ground, depending on the requirements of the local County Council.

OGE is qualified under the relevant FAS scheme to undertake site assessments and is a recommended provider of this service to County Councils.

OGE follows the EPA Wastewater Treatment Manuals Treatment Systems for Single Houses as necessary. OGE also follows the new proposed guidelines from the Department of Environment, Framework for Site Assessment of Large-scale On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems Discharging to Groundwater (draft).