This page provides links to the full text of key pieces of water environmental legislation that may affect your business in Wales. The websites hosting the legislation may list amendments separately.
Water legislation for Wales aims to control water quality. It covers discharges to sewers, surface waters and groundwater, water abstraction and impounding and the protection of water against agricultural nitrate pollution.
If you are setting up an environmental management system (EMS) for your business, you can use this list to start compiling your legal register. Your legal adviser or environmental consultant will be able to tell you if other environmental legislation applies to your specific business.
Environmental management systems and environmental reports
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Sets out the contents of anti-pollution works notices, how to appeal against such notices, and how to claim compensation for access rights in connection with anti-pollution works.
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Sets out procedures for applying for or varying consents for discharge into controlled waters and appeals to the Secretary of State. Details the information the Environment Agency has to keep in water pollution control registers.
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Brings into force rules to force polluters to prevent and repair damage to water systems, land quality, species and their habitats and protected sites. The polluter does not need to be prosecuted first, so remedying the damage will be faster.
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Guidance on Environmental Damage Regulations 2009
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Allows the environmental regulator to impose civil sanctions on a business committing certain environmental offences, as an alternative to prosecution and criminal penalties of fines and imprisonment.
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Amends 2010/1821 to set out the offences for which civil sanctions may be imposed.
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Provides a consolidated system for environmental permits and exemptions for industrial activities, mobile plant, waste operations, mining waste operations, water discharge activities, groundwater activities and radioactive substances activities.
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Introduces powers for local authorities to manage flood risk and allows water companies to restrict water use during shortages. When fully in force, it will encourage sustainable drainage systems and introduce a risk based approach to reservoir safety.
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Implements the EU Nitrates Directive to reduce nitrates from agriculture entering water systems. Sets Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, controls spreading of nitrogen fertiliser and sets closed periods, controls the application and storage of organic manure.
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Specifies which categories of trade effluent have their discharge to public sewers controlled. Also requires sewerage undertakers to notify Environment Agency if they intend to vary existing trade effluent consents
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Amends 1989/1156 to require that the Environment Agency is notified of other types of sewerage agreements.
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Sets out the framework for abstraction licensing, regulates impoundments, increases competition in water supply and includes measures for drought management and flood defence work in England and Wales.
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Consolidates previous legislation on water supply and sewerage services (including trade effluent consents) and opens up the market to allow private sector companies to compete to be appointed as water and sewerage undertakers.
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Designates River Dee catchment as a water protection zone under the Water Resources Act 1991. Requires Environment Agency consent to use substances like fuels, medicines and liquid feeding stuffs in the zone. Makes it illegal to contravene a consent.
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Requires licences for abstraction and impoundment of water, and establishes flood defence committees. Provides for works notices and water protection zones.
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Amends Water Resources Act 1991 by extending the use of Water Protection Zones and Works Notices, in particular to deal with harm to aquatic ecosystems caused by the physical characteristics of a water course such as the condition of river banks.
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Guidance on Water Resources Act 1991
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Sets out how to apply for a licence to abstract or impound water, how to appeal against refusal of a licence, and the penalties for non-compliance.
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Establishes construction and storage standards for silage-making and storage, slurry storage systems and agricultural fuel oil stores, with the aim of reducing water pollution.
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Requires an assessment of the likely environmental impact of projects abstracting over 20 cubic metres of water in 24 hours and agricultural water management projects, including irrigation projects.
