Can A Kitchen Sink Waste Pipe Legally Go Into A River?

[Quenched]

My friends parents house has a kitchen sink waste pipe leading all the way through their back garden under ground which after about 40 feet leads to a river. 

 

Its been this way since they had a kitchen /bathroom extension built way back in 1972, yet the bathroom waste, ie bath water, sink, toilet, all goes to a sewage tank burried in the garden.

But why they didn't route the kitchen sink waste pipe to the sewage tank is anyones guess. 

 

My question is in two parts. 

First question is because its been this way for over 52 years, is it worth altering, especially as no authority has picked up on it yet. 

 

And if it needs sorting how easy is it to sort financially, given everything else apart from rain water goes into the sewage tank. 

[Buenchico]

Start here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/discharges-to-surface-water-and-groundwater-environmental-permits

If you then click the link to 'Read more about when your waste water is classed as domestic sewage', you'll end up here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-sewage-discharges-to-surface-water-and-groundwater/domestic-sewage-discharges-to-surface-water-and-groundwater

You'll then see that . . .
"Domestic sewage includes waste water from:

. . . 

household washing using domestic detergents

cooking at home for family and friends

. . . 

washing dishes and cooking equipment, on a scale comparable to domestic cooking, after using them on the premises"

So, as I read it, the water being discharged from the kitchen does qualify as "domestic sewage" meaning either that such water should be discharged to a public foul sewer or a permit to discharge into the river is required.

[Quenched]

So basically after 52 years is it worth them altering this situation of kitchen sink waste going into a river? Especially as authorities hasent picked up on it after all this time.

 

It could easily go on for another 50+ years undetected, especially as where the outlet meets the river its very hidden behind a bridge wall, so no one can actually see the outlet at all. 

[davebro3]

Let sleeping dogs lie - if anyone queries it say they don't know how their drains are routed.

[DDIL]

Can you actually see the pipe and waste water coming out of it?

I am reminded that my father had a grey water gravel pit dug that went into the farmers field and all the grey water went there for years (with the farmers permision - eventually)