In order to discharge wastewater into the environment, it is necessary to seek permission and meet the conditions required by law. So, what are the conditions and procedures for licensing of wastewater discharge into water sources?
WHAT IS LICENSING OF WASTEWATER DISCHARGE INTO WATER SOURCES?
At present, there are many manufacturing and trading enterprises that do not have enough conditions to directly treat wastewater. Therefore, these enterprises are forced to discharge wastewater into the environment. However, they need to carry out the procedure to apply for a permit for discharge of wastewater. Wastewater Discharge Licensing Application is the process of making analyzing reports and evaluating the effect of the discharge of wastewater into the receiving water environment (also referred to as water sources), thus proposing appropriate technological and management solutions to ensure that the conditions of wastewater are in compliance with Vietnamese Laws.
In addition, the application for permits for discharge of wastewater helps competent state agencies better manage the output wastewater quality of manufacturing and trading enterprises and at the same time protect the environment, especially water sources.
WHO MUST APPLY FOR permits for discharge of wastewater INTO WATER SOURCES
All domestic and foreign organizations and individuals that discharge wastewater into the water source with a flow of 10m3/ day shall have to report on the discharge of wastewater into water sources.
CASES IN WHICH THE PERMISSION FOR DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER INTO WATER SOURCES IS NOT NECESSARY
There are some cases in which the permission for discharge of wastewater into water sources is not necessary.
- Discharge of individuals and households’ daily-life wastewater;
- Wastewater discharged from production, business and service establishments with a scale of no more than 5m3/ day and without hazardous chemicals or radioactive substances;
- Discharge of wastewater from production, business or service establishments into concentrated wastewater collection and treatment systems which have been granted permits by competent state agencies to discharge wastewater into water sources; and there must be an agreement or contract on treatment and drainage of wastewater with organizations and individuals managing and operating that concentrated wastewater collection and treatment system;
- Discharge of aquaculture wastewater with a flow of not exceeding 10,000m3/ day or aquaculture on the sea, rivers, streams and lakes.
CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING PERMITS FOR DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER INTO WATER SOURCES
Organizations and individuals wishing to apply for permits for discharge of wastewater into water sources must satisfy the following conditions:
- Having informed, consulted representatives of communities, organizations and individuals concerned.
- Having schemes and reports suitable to the water resource scale already approved or suitable to the water source capacity, the capacity of the water source to receive waste water if there has been no water resource planning as prescribed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; information and data must be sufficient, clear, accurate and truthful.
- Having equipment, human resources or contracts for hiring capable organizations or individuals to operate the wastewater treatment system and monitor wastewater discharge activities in cases where there are already wastewater discharge facilities.
- Having plans to arrange equipment and human resources to carry out the operation of wastewater treatment system and monitoring of wastewater discharge activities in cases where there are no wastewater discharge facilities.
- For facilities discharging wastewater into water sources with a flow of 10,000 m3/ day or more, there must be plans, means and equipment to cope with and overcome water pollution incidents and implement the supervision of discharge of wastewater according to the law.
APPLICATION FOR PERMITS FOR DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER INTO WATER SOURCES
The dossier of application for permits for discharge of wastewater into water sources includes:
- An application for a permit;
- The scheme on discharge of wastewater into water sources, enclosed with the process of operating wastewater treatment systems, for cases where wastewater has not been discharged; the report on the situation of discharge of wastewater, enclosed with the process of operating the wastewater treatment system in cases where wastewater is being discharged into water sources;
- The results of analysis of the quality of receiving water at the place wastewater is discharged into water sources; the results of analysis of the quality of wastewater before and after treatment in case of discharge of wastewater. The time of taking sample should not exceed 3 months before the time of submission of dossier.
- Map of wastewater discharge area.
In cases where there are no facilities for discharge of wastewater into water sources, dossiers of application for permits shall be submitted in the investment preparation stage.
TIME LIMIT FOR GRANTING PERMITS FOR DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER
Within 10 working days after receiving the dossier, the dossier-receiving agency shall have to consider and examine the dossier. Within 30 working days after receiving the complete and valid dossier, the dossier-receiving agency shall have to evaluate the schemes and reports; if necessary, to check the actual site and set up a council to evaluate the reports.
PHAN LAW VIETNAM
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Email: info@phan.vn
