Most wastewater treatment plants will have site specific requirements for the quality of wastewater that can be discharged into the natural environement. The quality requirements in these permits/licenses are set and regulated by DWAF.
In addition to these site specific limits, DWAF have issued General Authorisations in terms of Section 39 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998). The General Authorisation provides further guidance as to wastewater quality, management, etc., requirements.
Aspects of the General Authorisation are described in the following sections:
SCHEDULE 2
Engaging In A Controlled Activity, Identified As Such In Section 37(1): Irrigation Of Any Land With Waste Or Water Containing Waste Generated Through Any Industrial Activity Or By A Waterwork [Section 21(e)]
This schedule describes the quality and management requirements when wastewater is irrigated. Points of importance include:
- A person who irrigates with wastewater must submit to the Responsible authority (DWAF) a registration form or any other information requested in writing by the Responsible authority for the registration of the water use before commencement of irrigation.
- As the wastewater quality requirements for irrigation are dependant on the quantity of wastewater to be irrigated, flow measurement is required.
- The irrigation of wastewater may not impact on a water resource or any other person's water use, property or land and must not be detrimental to the health and safety of the public in the vicinity of the activity.
- Wastewater irrigation is only permitted if the irrigation takes place above the 100 year flood line, more than 100 metres from the edge of a water resource or a borehole which is utilised for drinking water or stock watering, on land that is not, or does not, overlie a Major Aquifer.
- Monitoring programmes to monitor the quantity (weekly) and quality (monthly) of the wastewater must be established.
- A SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) Accredited Laboratory should preferably be used for sample analysis.
- Written record of wastewater irrigation and related activities must be maintained.
- Precautionary practices must be followed to ensure prevention of waterlogging, pooling of wastewater, nuisance conditions (flies or mosquitoes), contamination of stormwater/run-off, etc.
- Sludge must be treated and handled appropriately.
SCHEDULE 3
Discharge Of Waste Or Water Containing Waste Into A Water Resource Through A Pipe, Canal, Sewer Or Other Conduit; And Disposing In Any Manner Of Water Which Contains Waste From, Or Which Has Been Heated In, Any Industrial Or Power Generation Process [Sections 21(f) and (h)]
This schedule describes the quality and management requirements when wastewater is discharged into a water resource. Points of importance include:
- A person who discharges wastewater into a water resource must submit a registration form for registration of the water use before commencement of the discharge.
- Both Special Limit (listed resource) and General Limit (unlisted resource) wastewater quality requirements are described.
- The quantity of wastewater discharged must be measured.
- The discharge of wastewater may not impact on a water resource or any other person's water use, property or land and must not be detrimental to the health and safety of the public in the vicinity of the activity.
- Monitoring programmes to monitor the quantity (weekly) and quality (monthly for domestic, weekly for industrial) of the wastewater must be established.
- A SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) Accredited Laboratory should preferably be used for sample analysis.
- Written record of wastewater discharges and related activities must be maintained.
- Sludge must be treated and handled appropriately.
SCHEDULE 4
Disposing Of Waste In A Manner Which May Detrimentally Impact On A Water Resource [Section 21(G)][Section 21(g)]
This schedule describes the manner in which waste can be disposed. Points of importance include:
- A person who stores wastewater must submit a registration form for registration of the water use before commencement of storage if more than 1 000 cubic metres are stored for disposal or if more than 500 cubic metres are stored for re-use.
- A person who disposes of wastewater must submit a registration form for registration of the water use before the commencement of the disposal if more than 50 cubic metres of domestic wastewater or biodegradable industrial wastewater is disposed of on any given day.
- Up to 5 000 cubic metres of domestic and/or biodegradable industrial wastewater can be stored for the purpose of re-use, if the storing of the wastewater does not impact on a water resource or on any other person's water use, property or land and is not detrimental to the health and safety of the public in the vicinity of the activity.
- Up to 10 000 cubic metres of domestic and/or biodegradable industrial wastewater for the purpose of disposal can be stored per property or land if the storing of the wastewater does not impact on a water resource or on any other person's water use, property or land and is not detrimental to the health and safety of the public in the vicinity of the activity.
- Up to 50 000 cubic metres domestic and/or biodegradable industrial wastewater for the purpose of disposal can be stored in a wastewater pond system per property or land if the storing of the wastewater does not impact on a water resource or on any other person's water use, property or land and is not detrimental to the health and safety of the public in the vicinity of the activity.
- Up to 1 000 cubic metres of domestic and/or biodegradable industrial wastewater, can be disposed of on any given day:
- Into a wastewater pond system or into an evaporation pond system
- Domestic wastewater or biodegradable wastewater into a wastewater irrigation system as set out under General Authorisation 2 above
- Wastewater to an on-site disposal facility
- Domestic wastewater generated by a single household not permanently linked to a central waste collection, treatment and disposal system to an on-site disposal facility
- Stormwater runoff from any premises not containing waste or wastewater from industrial activities and premises if the disposal of the wastewater does not impact on a water resource or on any other person's water use, property or land and is not detrimental to the health and safety of the public in the vicinity of the activity.
- Wastewater storage dams and wastewater disposal sites must be located outside of a watercourse, above the 100 year flood line, more than 100 metres from the edge of a water resource or a borehole which is utilised for drinking water or stock watering, which ever is further and on land that is not, or does not, overlie, a Major Aquifer.
- Monitoring programmes to monitor the quantity (monthly) and quality of the wastewater prior to storage or disposal must be established.
- All reasonable measures must be taken to prevent wastewater overflowing from any wastewater disposal system or wastewater storage dam.
- Sludge must be treated and handled appropriately