Since 1974 controls on industrial effluent dischargers in the United K
ingdom have increased significantly. The Water Act 1989 transferred th
e Water Industry in England and Wales to the private sector and create
d a National Rivers Authority. A mechanism to control the input of dan
gerous and harmful substances into the aquatic environment was establi
shed which requires Water Service Companies (WSCs) to refer to the Sec
retary of State for the Environment before granting consents for disch
arge to public sewer. The Environmental protection Act 1990 (EPA) furt
her increased regulation and established the principle of Integrated P
ollution Control (IPC). Operators of industrial processes listed under
the Act are required to obtain authorisation from Her Majesty's Inspe
ctorate of Pollution (HMIP) (HMIPI in Scotland) before they can operat
e the process. The complexity of legislation and regulation is describ
ed and practical difficulties experienced when implementing the contro
ls are examined, as are the relationships between the main environment
al regulators together with their relative responsibilities. Also disc
ussed are the costs associated with licensing and effluent disposal.