The Environment Agency has appointed Sira Certification Service to operate its new Monitoring Certification Scheme to cover on-site inspection of effluent flow monitoring
Launched on 1 April 2003, the Environment Agency's Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCerts) for monitoring equipment and services is being extended to cover on-site inspection of effluent flow monitoring arrangements.
The Environment Agency requires consent holders under the Water Resources Act 1991 to measure the flow of sewage or trade effluents greater than 50 cubic metres per day and collect the monitoring data.
The scheme will cover two standards.
Minimum requirements for the self-monitoring of effluent flow - this specifies the Environment Agency requirements for consent holders measuring the flow of sewage and/or trade effluent discharging to controlled waters. Competency standard for MCerts inspectors - effluent flow monitoring - this specifies the competency criteria for the inspectors who will undertake the assessment process.
The agency has appointed Sira Certification Service to operate this MCerts inspection scheme and appoint appropriate experts as MCerts inspectors.
Training and guidance will be provided on MCerts procedures and on the assessment of the consent holder's quality system in accordance with the Agency's requirements. Sira's certification service has three functions under the new scheme: ensuring competence of inspectors, providing technical and procedural framework for inspectors, and provision of MCerts certificates.
