When it comes to discharging into a watercourse, it’s important to refer to the code of practice, specifically 12566-3, which applies to wastewater treatments. For our wastewater treatment systems, if the volume of treated water being discharged is less than five cubic meters, it can go directly into a watercourse without permits. However, if the volume exceeds this, a discharge permit is required to assess the potential environmental impact.
The code of practice sets guidelines for certain effluent parameters, including BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), suspended solids, and ammonia. The standard rule is to achieve 20 milligrams per litre for BOD, 30 milligrams per litre for suspended solids, and 20 milligrams per litre for ammonia. These parameters may vary depending on factors such as protected areas or specific project requirements.
Some projects may have stricter effluent parameters or additional treatment requirements, such as nitrogen and phosphorus removal. In such cases, additional modules can be added to the treatment system to target and reduce these levels further. However, for most cases, meeting the 20, 30, 20 parameters and discharging less than five cubic meters per day is sufficient for direct discharge into a watercourse.
