Water pollution

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Water pollution covers the contamination of water bodies such as rivers, lakes, coastal waters and groundwater by harmful substances.

Sources of water pollution

Water pollution comes from a variety of sources, including:

  1. •

    oxygen-depleting substances, including sewage and organic wastes, silage effluent and organic industrial effluent

  2. •

    nutrient enrichment, such as through fertilisers

  3. •

    solids, like sand or silt which can impact flow or block light

  4. •

    toxic materials, such as heavy metals and chemicals

  5. •

    disease—causing organisms or pathogens

  6. •

    heat, which can affect biological conditions

  7. •

    oils and hydrocarbons

Water pollution is regulated through a number of regimes, as set out below.

Environmental permitting—discharges to surface water and groundwater

This regime requires operators to obtain environmental permits for various activities that could cause pollution, including water pollution from industrial activities. The permits set conditions to control emissions and discharges, ensuring that industrial activities do not harm water quality.

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/1154 prohibit a person from operating a regulated facility except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit. Regulated facilities include water discharge activities and groundwater activities.

A...

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