The variation of authorisation at Gairloch WWTW application received by SEPA on 24 May 2016 for

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1 a srsrems EME A w s wto 5 E PAW Scottish Environment Protection Agency Buidhe~,inn Dion Aminnnc. hd na h- Allm Our Ref: CAR/ L/ February 2018 Dear Sir/ Madam WATER ENVIRONMENT ( CONTROLLED ACTIVITIES) ( SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2011 THE REGULATIONS") NOTIFICATION OF PROPOSED DETERMINATION OF APPLICATION APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF AUTHORISATION REFERENCE NUMBER: CAR/ L/ LOCATION OF ACTIVITY: GAIRLOCH WWTW, FASAICH, BY GAIRLOCH Thank you for your written representation to Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( ) regarding above application under Regulations to vary licence CAR/ L/ authorising carrying on a controlled activity, namely a treated sewage effluent into Loch Gairloch. The variation authorisation at Gairloch WWTW application received by on 24 May 2016 for a septic tank was first advertised in July 2016, with a number valid third party representations to this advert received by. This application was subsequently amended by Scottish Water to a septic tank with seasonal provision an ultraviolet treatment process. The amended application was advertised in August 2017, with a number valid third party representations received by to second advert. has considered all valid third party representations received in response to adverts. has considered application is now ready to make its determination. hereby gives you notice that it proposes to grant application. Please find enclosed a copy draft schedule to ' s proposed notice variation. In reaching this determination, considered all third party representations ( including yours) or information. We took m into account as described in Appendix to this letter. You now have opportunity to object to proposed determination, if you so wish. If you object to ' s proposed determination, you may, within period 21 days beginning with date you receive this notice, notify Scottish Ministers in writing your objection. If you or anyone else does so, Scottish Ministers may direct to refer application to m for Cont' d /... Chairman DingvvA Office Bob Downes Graesser House, Fodderty Way, Dingwall Business Park, Dingwall IV15 9XBUKAS Chief rxewtive tel fax Terry A' Hearn www. sepa. org. uk customer enquiries

2 period50. Page 2 26 February 2018 ir own determination ( or " call in" application), provided certain criteria are met. You must send a copy that notification ( or " call- in request") to within same 21 - day The address for notifying Scottish Ministers is as follows: Scottish Ministers, Scottish Government, Environment Forestry Directorate, Environmental Quality Division, Area 1- D ( North), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ Or by EQCATC scotl. gsi. gov. uk The address for sending copy notification to is as follows: The Registry, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Graesser House, Dingwall Business Park, Fodderty Way, DINGWALL, IV15 9XB registrydingwall@sepa. org. uk If within that 21 - day period no such notification is made to Scottish Ministers, or if receives no copy notification, will proceed with its determination issue final notice variation to applicant. If any such notification is duly made to Scottish Ministers copied to, may not proceed with its determination until eir: we have received written notice from Scottish Ministers confirming that y do not intend to call in application; or we have received no written notice from Scottish Ministers, a period 63 days, beginning with date service this notice, has expired Please remember that, if you object, notify Scottish Ministers accordingly, but fail to copy your notification to within 21 - day period provided, may proceed with its determination irrespective your objection. It is refore important to copy any such notification to within that period. If you do not object to ' s proposed determination, you do not need to take any furr action. If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact Andrew Steel at ' s Dingwall fice, Graesser House, Dingwall Business Park, Fodderty Way, Dingwall IV15 9XB or telephone Yours faithfully SENIOR REGISTRY OFFICER Enc 50 see regulation 16( 4)

3 APPENDIX 1 ' S CONSIDERATION OF THIRD PARTY REPRESENTATIONS In common with any industry which makes s to aquatic environment, Scottish Water must apply for may be granted a licence, or a variation to a licence, under Water Environment ( Controlled Activities) ( Scotl) Regulations 2011 ( CAR). These regulations provide with powers to ensure that activities which may pose a risk to water environment are controlled. The determination process allows to set limits to ensure that Gairloch Wastewater Treatment Works ( WWTW) is operating within carrying capacity environment at location in which it s. The process determining licence variation application for Gairloch WWTW involves advertising consultation to ensure that interested parties can comment. An application has been made by Scottish Water for a varied WWTW to Loch Gairloch. The variation proposal includes: Proposed replacement existing tertiary process providing year- round treatment bioreactor membrane treatment), with a septic tank process with seasonal provision filtration Ultraviolet treatment. Proposed extension to existing pipe to NG an extension approximately 22m. The proposed would ensure compliance with policy on Environmental Quality Stards ( EQS) with no breach beyond mixing zone ( Refer to Guidance Document WAT- SG- 11) There will be no change to volume sewage effluent treated d. The amended Gairloch WWTW variation application attracted a number third party representations relating to water environment following adverts placed in The following is a summary how has carried out its determination application considered representations that have been made. Water Framework Directive The Loch Gairloch waterbody ( ID # ) has been classified by as ` Good' status since The current status water body meets requirements Water Framework Directive, thus must ensure that no deterioration from ` Good' status occurs, unless caused by a new activity providing significant specified benefits to society wider environment. The proposed variation to from Gairloch WWTW would cause no deterioration to Good' status Loch Gairloch. Bathing Waters There are two designated water areas at Gairloch, located at: S Beach ( Grid ref: NG ); Gairloch Beach ( Grid ref: NG ). WAT- LETT- 78 Page 1 4 v3 April 2015

4 The specific details se beach designations can be found on website, at apps. sepa. org. uk/ BathingWaters. Specific areas at se beaches were designated as waters ( BW) in March Their water quality microbiological classification stards are set from Bathing Water Directive 2006/ 7/ EC) ( shown below). The determins in Bathing Water Directive 2006/ 7/ EC have been used by from 2012 for environmental assessment. Areas designated under Bathing Waters Directive 2006/ 7/ EC are Protected Areas under Water Environment Water Services ( Scotl) Act In accordance with Regulatory Method ` WAT- RM- 13 Microbial Discharges', will expect new or modified s to ensure no deterioration achieve Good stards as a minimum for EC identified waters. These stards will be achieved at any point within identified water. Results from sampling at S Beach Gairloch Beach during 2017 water period, all met ` Excellent' classification stard 2017 classification waters at S Beach Gairloch Beach has been finalised as ` Excellent'. Assessment for EU Bathing Waters Directive classification purposes is based on a rolling four years monitoring results. assess report compliance with stards annually. Microbiological stards for classification Coastal Transitional Waters Parameter Excellent Good Sufficient Intestinal enterococci 100/ 100ml as a 200/ 100 ml as a 185/ 100 ml as a 95% ile 95% ile 90% ile Escherichia coli 250/ 100ml as a 500/ 100 ml as a 500/ 100 ml as a 95% ile 95% ile 90% ile The proposed microbiological licence stards have been modelled by applicant assessed by, are deemed sufficient to achieve compliance with ` Excellent' water stards prior to mixing with waters at designated edge waters area, for duration waters season ( which runs from 1 June to 15 September annually). ' s aim is for all waters to achieve a classification at least sufficient by 2020, refore this should cause no deterioration in microbiological stards during designated water period. has not undertaken an assessment economic benefit to local economy two new water designations in Loch Gairloch. Shellfish Waters There are no Shellfish Water Protected Areas ( SPAs) present in Loch Gairloch. There is no knowledge any proposal for a SPA designation within Loch Gairloch. Therefore has made no furr consideration regarding shellfish. WAT- LETT- 78 Page April 2015

5 Fishing There are no defined water quality stards which would restrict line, demersal activity within Habitat Loch Appraisals A habitat appraisal Site csac) ( proposed The associated Controlled Provision voluntarily Regulations by Scottish Water Water, that propose Minches cidate designated that proposed no likely treatment from significant effect waters limits on 1 May Gairloch provided ensured. fered level process SAC' site are harbour controlled activity on integrity 30 1 June microbiological to designated assessed variation application septic filtration is a The stards wider all licence Ultraviolet filtration extended would tank process, timescale provide than provision additional protection beyond 15 September, some additional microbiological May, in advance modelling, existing pipe. The provision September. quality undertaken treatment. annually 15 was that without The annually) September WWTW with a year round May to 30 September to existing to period from point existing extension 1 at provide provision ( ultraviolet quality treatment Water replacement seasonal for cidate concluded have protected Scottish a proposed treatment Hebrides csac. where were treatment, designated interest would enhanced receptors additional Inner Regulations ( CAR) existing ensure for ' Appraisal WWTW Minches out The qualifying Gairloch environmental stards carried area, boundary which is approximately 800 metres from location. Activities been 10508) Habitats with Inner Hebrides Scottish has code porpoise. with or pelagic fishing Gairloch. 15 UV days protection during water period. identified that proposed variation would not result in deterioration in status receiving water environment. The variation application was assessed using following WAT- RM- WAT- Regulatory 13 Microbiological SG- 11 assessed Methods Guidance: s Modelling coastal transitional s WAT- RM- 20 advertising consultation implications proposed change in upon existing designations risk to water users, using regulatory method document WAT- RM- 13. undertook an assessment importance site ( Loch Gairloch) risk to water users taking part in any activities regional, national or international concluded that Loch Gairloch water environment importance. is frequently used for recreation water users, however level activity which takes place outside designated areas not require season year would require has LETT- 78 end microbial refore microbiological WAT- is low, round determined risk posed pipe that to water stards users stards to to meet proposed be is acceptable. imposed Gairloch at water complies point stard with by waters WWTW use, does which ` sufficient. environmental requirements. Page 3 4 Q April 2015

6 North West Highls Snorkel trail The Northwest Highls Snorkel Trail identifies separate beginner advanced snorkelling areas at ` Big S Cam Dearg' ' An Dun'. The beginner snorkel trail areas appear to be located within designated water areas, refore se would receive required water quality protection during designated water period. Individual sewage s required treatment Any application to for a sewage is assessed using guidance documents WAT- RM- 04 WAT- RM- 03. Applications are assessed on a case by case basis to ensure that treatment proposed for provides an adequate level environmental protection for groundwater or surface waters. promotes connection to public sewer where it is reasonably practicable to do so. If level treatment set out in application is not a sufficient stard to meet ' s requirements, n may refuse application. Non- issues raised in representations The financial pay -back period variation proposal does not form part assessment variation application. has undertaken no assessment local economy or social impacts as a result proposed variation application. Where it is not relevant to determination application, cannot require Scottish Water to provide any outsting information or interpretation which may have been discussed at local meetings. Odour issues associated with sewer network or waste water treatment works in Gairloch are not regulated by any complaints may be raised with Highl Council Environmental Health department on WAT- LETT- 78 Page 4 4 v3 April 2015