Water: Guidance on the Groundwater Regulations 1998
The Groundwater Regulations were made in November 1998 to complete transposition of the Groundwater Directive. They came into effect on 1 April 1999. The purpose of the Regulations and the Directive is to prevent pollution of groundwater by listed substances.
The Regulations extend long-standing controls over discharges, in particular those in the Water Resources Act 1991, to hitherto unregulated disposals to land. They are somewhat complex and require new approaches by both the Agency and those affected by the Regulations.
The purpose of the guidance is to explain the purpose, contents and scope of the Regulations and, where appropriate, to explain certain aspects of their implementation following experience of their practical operation. Public consultation on a draft of the guidance was held 1999-2000 and, following further discussion with some of those affected by the Regulations, the guidance was published in April 2001.
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Further information
- Guidance on the Groundwater Regulations 1998
- Groundwater protection code: sheep dip
- Groundwater protection code: petrol stations
- Groundwater protection code: solvents
Contacting Defra
If you want further information that is not covered by these pages, you can contact us by email at graeme.henton@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page published
24 September 2001;
Page last modified
28 May 2008