Prevent pollution from your business

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.

Understanding your pollution risks

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

• Stored oils, fuels, chemicals, solvents, paints, pesticides and cleaning products
• Fuel spilt during refuelling, oil leaking from vehicles and machinery, and wash-down water containing detergents or contaminants
• Leaking skips, overflowing bins and waste liquids kept in unsuitable containers
• Cement washings, paint residues, dust and debris from construction and maintenance entering drains
• Spills in delivery and loading areas from transferring liquids, damaged containers and 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 connect to the public sewer and lead to a sewage treatment works. They typically serve toilets, sinks and kitchens.
• Surface water drains collect rainwater from roofs, yards, car parks and hardstanding. They discharge directly to local rivers, streams, ditches or the sea with no treatment at all.

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.

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

• Store all bulk oils, fuels and chemicals within a bund (a walled enclosure) that can hold 110% of the largest container. The bund must be impervious to the stored material and have no drainage outlet.
• Put drip trays under drums, IBCs (intermediate bulk containers) and any equipment that may leak. Check and empty them regularly, because a full drip tray is useless.
• Keep drain mats or covers ready to seal surface water drains during deliveries, refuelling or any activity that could cause a spill.
• Store chemicals under cover where you can, so rainwater does not mix with pollutants and overflow the containment.

Spill kits and emergency equipment

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

• Spill kits with absorbent pads, granules and socks suited to the materials you handle. Oil spill kits differ from chemical spill kits, so 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.
• 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.

Detailed guidance in the GPP series

NetRegs publishes the Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP) series on behalf of SEPA, NRW and NIEA. The documents listed above give practical good practice for specific activities. GPP 1 is the general starting point, and GPP 21 and GPP 22 cover incident response planning and dealing with spills.