The direct or indirect discharge of water (such as a irrigation system and its fertigation) and residual or chemical products that can contaminate continental waters, as well as the rest of the public hydraulic domain, is prohibited according to the Water Law, except in cases in which there is prior administrative authorization.
This guide is intended to clarify the process to follow when requesting a discharge point from the corresponding hydrographic confederation for isolated population centers with less than 250 equivalent inhabitants and without the possibility of being part of an urban agglomeration or having access to a sewerage network. .
Specifically, mention will be made of the information contained in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
The information and instructions for this application vary depending on the hydrographic confederation that exercises in each territory. In this case we will apply the one that is appropriate for the area in which we are located, which is the Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS). If you do not know the hydrographic confederation in your area, check with your City Council.
Table of Contents
1. Application for discharge authorization
The discharge request is attached in ANNEX III of Order AAA/2056/2014, of October 27 (BOE nº 268 of 05/11/2014)*. This is made up of various forms that must be attached depending on the characteristics of the discharge, whether it is urban or industrial, and the number of equivalent inhabitants in the case of urban discharges.
For isolated population centers with less than 250 equivalent inhabitants and without the possibility of forming part of an urban agglomeration, the forms that must be filled out to present this request are the ones listed below:
- Application for authorization or review of discharge authorization.
- Form 1.1. Urban discharges.
- Form 2. pouring point. The exact location of the point where the spill occurs is indicated.
- Form 3.2. Raw sewage. The wastewater is qualitatively and quantitatively characterized before its purification.
- Form 3.4. General characterization. For all discharges except for those of cooling water.
- Form 4. Description of the purification, evacuation and discharge control facilities.
- Form 5. Project of the purification or elimination works and installations that, where appropriate, are necessary so that the degree of purification is adequate to achieve the emission limit values of the discharge.
- Form 6. Affections to third parties. If the imposition of a forced aqueduct easement or the declaration of public utility for the purposes of forced expropriation is required.
- Form 8. Previous hydrogeological study. In the event that the destination of the discharge is groundwater. It must also be completed by all applicants for discharge authorizations that are carried out in channels with an intermittent flow regime and that do not reach a permanent current when it is considered as an indirect discharge to groundwater through filtration through the ground.
- Form 9: Constitution of the Community of discharge users. It is completed when there is no single owner of the activity causing the discharge, for example, industrial estates, urbanizations and other groups without legal personality.
In the case of the Authorization of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation, the Content*1 for discharges from single-family homes and urban centers with up to 250 equivalent inhabitants, according to the simplified model of Order AAA/2056/2014, of October 27.
Along with the application, the description of the purification system must be submitted.
If acting through a representative, a document that accredits said representation is necessary (if it is legal persons or if the applicant for the authorization is not the interested party).
If the discharge is into a private channel (azarbes, ditches, meranchos, etc.), the authorization of the owner of the channel is necessary to receive the discharge.
2. Installation
when it is intended to install the urban wastewater treatment system before obtaining the Authorization of the Discharge Point, (consult the hydrographic confederation of your area if it allows it), The first thing to take into account is the vulnerability and permeability of aquifers in the area where you want to install the system.
In the case of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation, this information can be consulted at the following links:
The purification systems that are admitted are the conventional and the prefabricated ones. For the conventional system, the project for the discharge treatment and evacuation facilities must be presented, including a plan of the location of the discharge, signed by a competent technician. Purification performance, design flow and sealing and resistance characteristics must be similar to those required for prefabricated systems indicated in the document of discharge requirements for single-family homes and urban centers up to 250 equivalent inhabitants *2.
For prefabricated systems distinguish:
- From 0 to 50 equivalent inhabitants:
If the destination of the treated water is a body of groundwater with a high intrinsic vulnerability or superficial riverbeds, equipment that complies with the standard is required. UNE-EN 12566-3*3, prefabricated domestic wastewater treatment plants and/or assembled at their destination.
Minimum yields: BOD5: 70% COD: 75% SS: 90%.
In all other cases, compliance with the standard is required. UNE-EN 12566-1*4, prefabricated septic tanks.
Additional documentation to provide:
- Manufacturer's information (CE marking, Declaration of performance, product description/technical sheet and installation and maintenance manual or instructions).
- Floor plan or sketch (with location of housing, treatment plant and discharge area).
- Plan or elevation sketch of the treatment plant in relation to the ground level.
- If the discharge is to the land: description of the effluent filtration system.
- Explanation of the construction precautions to be taken in cases where the water table is close to the surface.
- If the authorization request is for a discharge from an already existing purification equipment, the purchase and installation of the purification equipment must be documented by providing the corresponding invoice and photographs..
- From 51 to 250 equivalent inhabitants:
If the destination of the treated water is a mass of groundwater of high intrinsic vulnerability or surface channels, prefabricated and/or assembled domestic wastewater treatment plants are required at its destination. total oxidation type. Minimum yields: BOD5: 70% COD: 75% SS: 90%.
For the rest of the cases, prefabricated and/or assembled septic tanks are required. pit-filter type. Minimum yields: BOD5: 60% COD: 65% SS: 90%.
You must submit a DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY signed by a competent technician, of the discharge treatment and evacuation facilities (according to art. 253.2 RDPH) that includes a plan of the location of the discharge. memory will be found visa by the corresponding professional association or proof of the alleged academic degree will be provided.
3. Steps to follow after obtaining authorization
- For the authorization to produce full legal effects, the installation of the wastewater treatment system must be carried out within a period of 6 months once the resolution has been obtained by the corresponding Hydraulic Administration (communicate in writing the completion and commissioning of the works and document proof of the installation).
- Submit a report on the maintenance of the water treatment system installation that includes the maintenance operations carried out, the schedule of revisions carried out and the general state of the installation is assessed, together with a analytical self-monitoring of discharge (Carried out by a Collaborating Entity of the Hydraulic Administration in the last year of validity of the authorization).
- Annual payment of the discharge control canon within the first quarter of each calendar year (except if the amount is less than 3 euros).
- Renewal of the authorization automatically for successive terms of the same duration as the authorized one.
- The installation of a manhole between the point of discharge and the outlet of the septic tank is recommended for taking samples, inspections and control of the discharge.
4. Clarifications
- In the case of watertight deposit installations, as there is no discharge of waste water and products onto the land, authorization of the discharge point by the CHS is not necessary.
- Forms 5'.1 and 5'.2 of the OE no. 268 of 05/11/2014 They must be completed when there are overflow flows from sanitation systems, in the case of urban discharges of more than 2.000 equivalent inhabitants.
- Consult the requirements and instructions that the presentation of this application requires based on the corresponding Hydraulic Administration.
- In case of requesting authorization for a point of discharge of industrial wastewater or wastewater for urban discharges of more than 250 equivalent inhabitants, consult the corresponding information. (For CHS, instructions and form here).
On our website you can find the septic tank with biological filter and total oxidation that best suits your needs based on the legislation. For any questions do not hesitate to contact us!
(*) Hyperlink directed to BOE document No. 268 of November 5, 2014. Order AAA/2056/2014, of October 27, approving the official forms for requesting authorization and declaration of discharge.
(*)1 and 2. Hyperlink that leads to instructions and request for a discharge point from the Segura Hydrographic Confederation for single family homes and urban centers up to 250 equivalent inhabitants.
(*)3 UNE-EN 12566-3: Small wastewater treatment facilities for populations of up to 50 equivalent inhabitants. Part 3: Domestic wastewater treatment plants prefabricated and/or assembled at their destination.
(*)4 UNE-EN 12566-1: Small wastewater treatment facilities for populations of up to 50 equivalent inhabitants. Part 1: Prefabricated septic tanks.
It seems to me an excellent work, worthy of a good informant.
Could you tell me if being in a moderate area, regarding the vulnerability of the aquifers, and high or very high permeability, can I place an oxidation filter?
In the house we are six people.
A greeting and thanks in advance
Based on the requirements of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation, if the area in which it is located does not present a high intrinsic vulnerability, it is not going to discharge into surface waters and the equipment to be installed meets the dictated yields, it should be able to be installed.
However, we recommend that you check with the Hydrographic Confederation in your area.
As a note, the total oxidation equipment complies with the 12566-3 regulation, which is the maximum required by the hydrographic confederations, so you would not have problems when requesting its authorization.