DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT CONTROL IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM

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.