Environment & Sustainability UK-wide

Sewerage: compliance checklist

Use this checklist to confirm your sewerage business (SIC division 37) meets its obligations. Work through the workplace items every business shares, then the sewerage regulatory duties. If you answer no to any item that applies to you, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

Guide summary

Work through this checklist to confirm your sewerage business meets its obligations. Section 1 covers workplace duties: risk assessments, fire safety, insurance, equality and data protection. Section 2 covers sewerage regulatory duties: appointments, permits, treatment standards and sludge controls. If you answer no to any item, follow the linked guidance before you proceed.

  • Write risk assessments for confined spaces and toxic gases
  • Assess fire risk at treatment works, pumping stations and offices
  • Hold employers' liability insurance of at least £5 million
  • Comply with the Equality Act 2010 and UK GDPR
  • Get an Ofwat appointment if you operate a sewerage network
  • Obtain environmental permits for discharges to water
  • Meet urban waste water treatment standards
  • Comply with sludge controls if you spread sludge to farmland
  • Follow linked guidance if you answer no to any item
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Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Use this checklist to confirm your business meets its obligations. Work through each item and answer yes or no. Section 1 covers the workplace and employment duties. Section 2 covers the sewerage regulatory duties. If you answer no to an item that applies to you, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

Workplace health and safety is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain and by HSENI in Northern Ireland. Economic regulation is by Ofwat (England and Wales). Environmental permits and discharge consents are issued by the Environment Agency (England), Natural Resources Wales, SEPA (Scotland) or NIEA (Northern Ireland).

Section 1 — Workplace duties and employing people

These duties apply to every sewerage business. Confirm each one.

  1. 1

    Have you written your risk assessments and put safe systems of work in place?

    Your general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your people and others affected by your work. Risk-assess confined-space entry into sewers and treatment tanks, toxic-gas exposure (hydrogen sulphide, methane), biological hazards and manual handling. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe sewerage operation".

  2. 2

    Have you assessed fire risk at treatment works, pumping stations and offices?

    Methane generation at sewage treatment works is a specific fire and explosion risk. Follow the fire-safety regime for your nation.

  3. 3

    Do you hold employers' liability insurance and meet your equality and data duties?

    Hold at least £5 million of cover once you employ anyone. Do not discriminate under the Equality Act 2010 (or separate NI equality law enforced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland). Comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, registering with the ICO unless exempt.

Section 2 — Sewerage regulatory duties

Confirm each regulatory duty that applies to your business.

  1. 1

    Do you hold an appointment as a sewerage undertaker (if applicable)?

    If you operate a sewerage network in England and Wales, you need an appointment from Ofwat under the Water Industry Act 1991. Smaller operators (cesspool emptiers, drain contractors) are not undertakers — skip this item. If applicable, follow "Meet your sewerage regulatory duties".

  2. 2

    Do you hold environmental permits for your discharges?

    Discharging treated effluent or sewage to controlled waters needs an environmental permit under EPR 2016. In Scotland it needs a CAR licence. In Northern Ireland it needs a discharge consent from NIEA.

  3. 3

    Do you meet urban waste water treatment standards?

    Treatment works serving agglomerations must meet the minimum collection and treatment standards, with stricter treatment in designated sensitive areas.

  4. 4

    If you spread sewage sludge to agricultural land: do you comply with the sludge controls?

    Test and treat the sludge, test the receiving soil, keep records and limit heavy-metal loadings under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989.

If you answered no to anything

Work through the guide linked in that item. The two task guides — the workplace spine and the regulatory duties guide — set out what to do. Start from the router if you are not sure which apply to you.

Official sources

Authoritative sewerage regulation guidance.