Environmental permitting: groundwater activities in England
This guidance will help the regulator, stakeholders, and others with an interest in groundwater activities in England.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guidance only applies in England.
In Wales, the December 2010 guidance Environmental permitting guidance groundwater activities should continue to be followed.
It describes the views of the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on how:
- legislation relating to groundwater activities should be applied
- particular terms should be interpreted in England
This guidance explains the legal requirements but only the national courts can give a definitive interpretation of the legislation.
‘Groundwater activities’ includes both those activities that require a permit, and those activities that are unlawful. For instance, causing pollution to groundwater, whether deliberate or accidental.
This guidance is part of a series of guidance documents which accompany the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, SI No. 1154.
It should be read in conjunction with the environmental permitting core guidance.