Discharge of polluted effluent to watercourses or groundwater has the potential to catastrophically affect the aquatic environment. The effects can be long lasting, with natural conditions not returning for years — if not decades — afterwards.
Any site which discharges a trade effluent or runoff, likely to be heavily polluted, to a natural watercourse or groundwater will be subject to consent by the relevant regulatory body.
Requirements in relation to discharge consents vary regionally.