Trade effluent is any liquid waste (effluent) discharged into our sewers from a business or industrial process on a trade premises.
This includes any wastewater derived from a production process or from washing down or cooling activities, including wastes from public-funded activities such as municipal landfills.
This can also be described as anything other than domestic sewage (toilet, bath or sink waste) or uncontaminated surface water and roof drainage (rainwater).
Section 141 of the Water Industry Act 1991 defines trade effluent as: 'any liquid, either with or without particles of matter in suspension in the liquid, which is wholly or partly produced in the course of any trade or industry carried on at a trade premises.'
Trade effluent includes wastewater from, but not limited to:
- Commercial car washes
- Laundries/launderettes
- Food and drink production
- Chemical manufacturers