This Practice Note sets out the regulatory regime for water discharge activities (formerly water discharge consents) under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/1154 (EPR), including the procedure for obtaining a permit and the criminal and civil offences for water pollution. It also looks at the types of water discharge activities that require a water quality permit in England and Wales and what may be exempt, charges for water quality permits, and considers civil liability and sanctions such as anti-pollution works notices, enforcement and suspension notices and enforcement undertakings. The Practice Note also includes details of an appeal test case, heard at the Planning Inspectorate, against decisions to impose conditions on water quality permits for water companies—the decision was dated 30 April 2014 (APP/WQ/10/2770–71, APP/WQ/11/2772–78, APP/EPR/11/2–5, 9–10, 13–16, 18–21, 34 and APP/EPR/12/41, 57–60, 64, 97–98). This Practice Note links to related Brexit content.