Irish Water Discharge Log — KBC Head Brewer Hub

Why This Matters

Breweries produce trade effluent — wastewater from brewing, cleaning, and CIP processes. Irish Water regulates trade effluent discharge. Failure to monitor and log properly can result in fines, enforcement action, or loss of discharge licence. This is not optional paperwork — it is a legal requirement.

What to Log

Field	Details
Date	Every brew day and every CIP day
Estimated volume (litres)	Total wastewater discharged that day
Source	Brewing (mash, sparge, boil), CIP (caustic/acid rinses), general cleaning
pH reading	Measured before discharge. Must be within 6.0–10.0 range.
Temperature	Must be below 40°C before discharge to drain
Unusual events	Chemical spills, equipment malfunction, abnormal discharge colour/smell
Operator	Who recorded the reading

Monitoring Procedure

Log every brew day — record estimated volume, source, and any chemicals used
Check pH after every CIP cycle — caustic and acid must be neutralised before discharge
Check temperature — if wastewater is above 40°C, cool before allowing it to drain
Record any unusual events — spills, abnormal colour, strong odours, equipment failures
Report any spills or incidents to Barry immediately — do not wait
Compile monthly summary — total volume discharged, average pH, any incidents
Keep physical log in the brewery binder and a copy in Breww notes

pH Guidelines

Irish Water typically requires trade effluent pH between 6.0 and 10.0. Brewery wastewater can vary significantly:

Source	Typical pH	Action
Spent grain / mash water	5.0–6.0	Slightly acidic — generally acceptable
Post-caustic CIP rinse	10.0–13.0	Too alkaline — must neutralise before discharge
Post-acid CIP rinse	2.0–4.0	Too acidic — must neutralise before discharge
Final CIP rinse (properly done)	6.5–7.5	Neutral — safe to discharge
General cleaning water	6.5–8.0	Generally acceptable

This is why checking pH of the final CIP rinse is critical. Never discharge caustic or acid rinse water without neutralising first.

Monthly Summary Template

Field	Example
Month	May 2026
Total brew days	12
Total CIP cycles	18
Estimated total discharge volume	8,400 litres
pH range (min–max)	6.2–7.8
Average pH	7.0
Incidents	None
Compiled by	Michael Lynch
Date compiled	31 May 2026