In May 2025, the Environment Agency announced a consultation on a new annual levy for sewerage undertakers. While this may sound like just another policy aimed at water companies, it carries a very real knock-on effect for businesses discharging trade effluent — particularly in the food and beverage, manufacturing, and logistics sectors.
And whether or not this levy goes through unchanged, one thing is clear: enforcement budgets are growing, inspections are increasing, and businesses need to be ready.
📈 Why This Matters to You — Even If You’re Not a Water Company
Let’s be honest — most operators haven’t revisited their discharge consents or site procedures since they were approved. But with the EA’s growing emphasis on compliance, the risks of doing nothing are stacking up:
- More frequent inspections
The EA’s own business plan shows inspections already increased by 30% in 2024–25. The levy is meant to accelerate this. - Stronger enforcement tools
Since April, the cap on fines for pollution incidents has been lifted — meaning penalties are now unlimited. - Pressure on undertakers = pressure on you
Water companies may respond to the levy with tighter acceptance standards, higher testing thresholds, and more rejected effluent.
🧠 Common Gaps in Trade Effluent Compliance
From what we’ve seen on the ground, many businesses fall short in these areas without realising:
- Discharge points have changed, but permits haven’t
- Site expansions haven’t triggered a permit review
- Sampling regimes are outdated or poorly documented
- Emergency storage or diversion plans are informal at best
None of these are high-profile problems — until something goes wrong, or an inspector turns up unannounced.
✅ What You Can Do Right Now
- Review your discharge consent conditions
Are you operating within limits? Is your permit still fit for purpose? - Check your monitoring and sampling setup
Is it regular, accurate, and documented in a way that stands up to scrutiny? - Run a trade effluent compliance audit
A third-party review can flag weaknesses early — before they become expensive. - Have a plan for surges, breakdowns, or over-limit events
If you rely on tankering, diversion or emergency containment, make sure it’s written and workable.
💬 Our Take
This levy is just the start of a broader shift in how the EA approaches compliance. It’s less about permission — and more about proof.
At Trade Effluent Services, we help clients not only stay compliant but turn their trade effluent strategy into a competitive advantage — avoiding unplanned costs, protecting reputation, and improving operational certainty.
Need a second set of eyes on your permit or procedures?
We offer rapid trade effluent reviews and site audits tailored to your industry — whether you’re in food production, logistics, or wastewater-intensive manufacturing.
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