Protecting groundwater from human burials
How to avoid causing groundwater pollution when developing cemeteries for burying human remains.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guidance is for local councils or other cemetery operators. It sets out the Environment Agency’s approach to the regulation of cemeteries to protect the environment. It covers both new cemetery developments and existing cemeteries.
Updates to this page
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Updated the link to the Environment Agency's consultation on standard rules permits for cemetery developments to advise the consultation is closed awaiting publication of the response and outcome.
Update history
2026-04-13 10:04
Updated the ‘Standard rules permits for medium risk cemeteries’ section to link to the consultation response about proposed standard rules permits for cemetery developments.
2025-06-25 13:40
Updated the link to the Environment Agency’s consultation on standard rules permits for cemetery developments to advise the consultation is closed awaiting publication of the response and outcome.
2025-04-01 10:12
Added a link to the Environment Agency’s consultation on standard rules permits for cemetery developments.
2024-07-24 09:11
Updated the ‘bespoke permits’ section to link to the latest fees.
2023-10-02 08:00
Updated the guide to reflect the requirements that apply from 2 October 2023.
2022-04-01 08:30
First published.