What is Trade Effluent?

Trade Effluent (TE) is non-domestic wastewater that is discharged directly or indirectly into the sewerage network. As part of the Water Industry Act 1991, Wholesalers have a legal obligation to control trade effluent, protecting the health and safety of the public, preserving the environment, and protecting the sewerage network and associated assets.

Common industries that would typically discharge TE include:

• Engineering/chemical production
• Commercial swimming pools
• Food and drink manufacturing
• Waste and recycling centres
• Construction sites
• Laundrettes
• Car washes
• Flushing of heating and cooling systems

Unique Challenges of TE

It is more challenging for Wholesalers to treat and return TE to the water network as potable water than it is for them to treat and return domestic sewage. As a result, both the billing and the governance of effluent discharge are unlike that of water and domestic sewage.

TE Governance

The governance of effluent is managed through the TE Consent process (see Trade Effluent Consent Process for more information).

TE Billing

The billing for TE accounts is driven not only by volume of discharge, but also how the quality of this discharge (see Trade Effluent for more information).