Water pollution
Almost any solid, liquid or gaseous substance entering surface waters or groundwater could be a pollutant. This includes chemicals, salt, wash waters, waste products, trade effluents, and fuels. Rainwater that runs across your site can also be classed as a pollutant if it becomes contaminated by substances from your site.
Almost all substances used and disposed of by businesses are unsuitable for discharge to surface waters or groundwater without prior treatment. Even hot water can be classified as a pollutant.
This guideline applies to you if:
- you discharge or have the potential to discharge anything into surface waters or groundwater
- there is a chance that substances from your site could enter surface waters or groundwater accidentally, for example by spillage or run-off.
What are surface waters and groundwater?
Surface waters include rivers, lakes, lochs, loughs, reservoirs, ponds, streams, canals, ditches, coastal waters and estuaries. Groundwater is all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone (that is, below the water table) and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil.
In this guideline:
- How are surface waters and groundwater protected from pollution in Scotland?
- Authorisations you require for discharges to water
- Storing and handling materials on your site
- Managing your site's discharges and drainage
- Accidental spills and site security
- Works Notices and Enforcement Notices
- Do the Groundwater Regulations affect me?
- Septic tanks, package plants and cesspools
- Further information on water pollution
- Water pollution legislation
