Prevent pollution from your business

How to identify and manage pollution risks from your business premises. Covers containment principles, drainage awareness, spill prevention, and creating a pollution incident response plan.

UK-wide
Guide summary

You must prevent pollution from your business. Check where your drains go, store chemicals safely, and have a spill kit ready. Polluting can lead to unlimited fines and up to 5 years in prison, even if accidental.

  • Check if your drains go to rivers or sewage (surface water or foul)
  • Store oils and chemicals in bunded areas or drip trays
  • Keep spill kits accessible and train staff to use them
  • Make a pollution incident response plan
  • Up to 5 years in prison for causing pollution
  • Unlimited fines for polluting water, air, or land
  • Surface water drains go straight to rivers with no treatment
  • Use covers to seal drains during risky activities
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UK-wide

Related guides in Environment & Sustainability

Every business has a legal duty to prevent pollution of water, air, and land. If polluting materials escape from your premises - whether through a spill, a leak, or contaminated run-off - you could face prosecution, unlimited fines, and up to 5 years in prison. This applies even if the pollution was accidental.

The most common cause of water pollution from businesses is materials entering surface water drains. Unlike foul drains (which go to sewage treatment works), surface water drains discharge directly into rivers, streams, and coastal waters with no treatment. A single drum of oil entering a surface water drain can devastate a watercourse for miles.

This guide explains how to identify your pollution risks and put practical measures in place to prevent incidents. The Environment Agency's Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP) series provides detailed good practice for specific activities.

Understanding your pollution risks

Pollution risks exist on almost every business premises. Common sources include:

  • Stored materials: Oils, fuels, chemicals, solvents, paints, pesticides, and cleaning products
  • Vehicle and machinery operations: Fuel spillage during refuelling, oil leaks, wash-down water containing detergents or contaminants
  • Waste storage: Leaking skips, overflowing bins, waste liquids stored in unsuitable containers
  • Construction and maintenance: Cement washings, paint residues, dust, and debris entering drains
  • Delivery and loading areas: Spillage during transfer of liquids, damaged containers, leaking deliveries

Start by walking your site and asking: if something spills here, where does it go? If the answer is "into a drain" or "across the yard", you have a pollution risk that needs managing.

Know where your drains lead

This is one of the most important things any business can do. Your premises will typically have two separate drainage systems:

  • Foul drains: Connected to the public sewer, leading to a sewage treatment works. Typically serve toilets, sinks, and kitchen facilities.
  • Surface water drains: Collect rainwater from roofs, yards, car parks, and hardstanding. These discharge directly to local watercourses - rivers, streams, ditches, or the sea - with no treatment whatsoever.

Many businesses do not know which drains are which. If contaminated water (oil, chemicals, detergent, food waste, cement) enters a surface water drain, it goes straight into the environment. Even small amounts can cause serious harm to aquatic life and trigger enforcement action.

How to check: Ask your water company for a drainage plan, or commission a CCTV drain survey. Look for colour-coded drain covers (blue or yellow typically indicate surface water). Your local authority or Environment Agency can advise if you are unsure.

Containment and spill prevention

The core principle of pollution prevention is secondary containment: if a container fails or a spill occurs, there must be a physical barrier preventing the material from reaching drains, watercourses, or the ground.

Key containment measures

  • Bunding: All bulk storage of oils, fuels, and chemicals must be within a bund (a walled enclosure) capable of holding 110% of the largest container. The bund must be impervious to the stored material and have no drainage outlet.
  • Drip trays: Use under drums, IBCs (intermediate bulk containers), and any equipment that may leak. Check and empty them regularly - a full drip tray is useless.
  • Drain covers and seals: Keep drain mats or covers available to seal surface water drains during deliveries, vehicle refuelling, or any activity that could cause a spill.
  • Covered storage: Store chemicals under cover where possible to prevent rainwater mixing with pollutants and overflowing containment.

Spill kits and emergency equipment

Every premises where polluting materials are stored or used should have appropriate spill response equipment:

  • Spill kits: Absorbent materials (pads, granules, socks) suitable for the materials you handle. Oil spill kits differ from chemical spill kits - make sure you have the right type.
  • Drain covers or mats: To block surface water drains during a spill.
  • Containment booms: For larger sites or those near watercourses.
  • PPE: Gloves, goggles, and overalls for staff dealing with spills.

Equipment must be easily accessible, clearly marked, and checked regularly. All staff who may need to respond to a spill must know where the equipment is and how to use it.

  1. 1

    1. Identify your pollution risks

    Walk your site and list all materials that could cause pollution if released - oils, fuels, chemicals, waste liquids, wash-down water. Note where they are stored, used, and transferred. Check for signs of existing leaks or staining.

  2. 2

    2. Check where your drains lead

    Obtain a drainage plan from your water company or commission a survey. Identify which drains are surface water (discharging to watercourses) and which are foul (going to sewage works). Mark drain covers clearly on site.

  3. 3

    3. Install appropriate containment

    Ensure all oils, fuels, and chemicals are stored within secondary containment (bunds or drip trays). Bunds must hold 110% of the largest container. Check containment is in good condition with no cracks or drainage valves left open.

  4. 4

    4. Get spill kits and train staff

    Purchase spill kits appropriate for the materials you handle and place them near storage and handling areas. Train all relevant staff on spill response procedures, including how to block drains and who to call.

  5. 5

    5. Create a pollution incident response plan

    Follow the GPP 21 guidance to create a written plan covering how to contain spills, who to notify (including the 0800 80 70 60 hotline), and how to clean up. Review the plan at least annually and after any incident.

The GPP series - finding detailed guidance

The Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP) series provides detailed good practice for specific activities. Key documents for most businesses include:

  • GPP 1: General guide to preventing pollution - a good starting point for all businesses
  • GPP 2: Above ground oil storage tanks - essential if you store oil or fuel
  • GPP 5: Works and maintenance in or near water
  • GPP 8: Safe storage and disposal of used oils
  • GPP 13: Vehicle washing and cleaning
  • GPP 21: Pollution incident response planning
  • GPP 22: Dealing with spills

The GPP series is published by NetRegs on behalf of SEPA, NRW, and NIEA. In England, regulatory guidance is published separately on GOV.UK, but the GPP documents remain the best source of practical good practice UK-wide.

Official guidance on GOV.UK and NetRegs