The Environment Agency will allow water companies to discharge untreated effluent to surface water in event of “supply chain failures” to obtain treatment chemicals

Water and sewerage company effluent discharges – supply chain failure: RPS B2

How to manage effluent discharge treatment when you cannot get the chemicals you need because of unavoidable supply chain failure.

Normally, you need a permit under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 to discharge treated effluent from a waste water treatment works (WwTW) to surface water or groundwater. Permits contain conditions that control the quality of the effluent you can discharge.

This regulatory position statement (RPS) only applies to water and sewerage company discharges from WwTW that cannot comply with permit conditions because of an unavoidable shortage of chemicals to treat effluent.

You must get written agreement from your Environment Agency water company account manager before you use this RPS.

Covered in Water Briefing