Water pollution legislation
This page provides links to key pieces of relevant environmental legislation. Most of the links will direct you to the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) or Statute Law Database (SLD) websites.
It is important to remember that different parts of the UK have variations in environmental laws.
The future legislation section provides details of environmental legislation that is due to come into force as well as information on proposed developments in environmental law:
If you are implementing an environmental management system (EMS) for your business, you can use this list of key legislation to start compiling your legislation directory. Remember to check other environmental topics for legislation that may relate to your business activities. You may also need to know about:England and Wales
- Water Resources Act 1991
- Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (England and Wales) Regulations 1998 SI 1202
- Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 SI 1852
- Anti-Pollution Works Regulations 1999 SI 1006
- Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations 1991 SI 324
- Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 SI 2044
- Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 SI 547
- Groundwater Regulations 1998 SI 2746
- Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (England and Wales) Regulations 1996 SI 888
- Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2002 SI 2297
- Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006 SI 1289
- Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Regulations (NI) 1999 SI 156
- Anti-Pollution Works Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 SR 7
- Control of Pollution (Applications and Registers) Regulations (NI) 2001 SR 284
- Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations (NI) 2003 SR 319
- Groundwater Regulations (NI) 1998 SI 401
- Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution Regulations (NI) 2003 SR 259
- Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (NI) Regulations 2004 SR 419
- Protection of Water against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 SR 306
- Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 SI 3160 (N.I. 15)
- Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 SI 662
- Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 SR 544
Scotland
- Control of Pollution Act 1974 (not available online)
- Control of Pollution Act 1974 (Part II) Primary: & Water Act 1989 - Scotland (not available online)
- Environment Act 1995
- Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003
- Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (Designation of Scotland River Basin District) Order 2003 SSI 610
- Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 1998 SI 2927 (S. 171)
- Anti-Pollution Works (Scotland) Regulations 2003 SSI 168
- Groundwater Regulations 1998 SI 2746
- Water (Prevention of Pollution) (Code of Practice) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2001 SSI 175
- Water (Prevention of Pollution) (Code of Practice) (Scotland) Order 2005 SSI 63
- Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 SSI 348
Further information
The current legislation lists provide links to key environmental statutes and regulations.
