Groundwater (Hansard, 11 November 1998)

§ Mr. Meacher

I have today laid before the House new Regulations (the Groundwater Regulations 1998) which will provide additional protection for groundwater. The Regulations cover England, Wales and Scotland.

The Regulations introduce controls over disposals to land which could pollute groundwater, prohibit discharges of List I substances to groundwater, and provide powers for the environment agencies to control activities which may pollute groundwater. Activities already controlled by a waste management licence are excluded from the scope of the Regulations since groundwater protection is, where appropriate, already taken into account in waste management assessments.

Groundwater is an increasingly important good quality resource for drinking water as well as a vital element of the aquatic environment. By affording additional protection to groundwater, the Regulations should help to contain water undertakers' costs where it is necessary to clean up aquifers. There should also be longer term environmental gains through enhanced protection of water quality.

The Regulations apply to all groundwater and their scope is potentially wide, but the sectors most likely to be affected are those where discharges or disposals to land which could affect groundwater have not been regulated as a matter of course, such as the spreading of used sheep dip.

193W

The Regulations have been subject to wide public consultation as a result of which my officials and the environment agencies have sought to develop a simplified approach to implementation. The Environment Agency has also issued a consultation paper on a revised charging scheme. This provides for reduced charges for applications for authorisations relating to small and infrequent disposals to land, such as those arising from agriculture. A similar approach is likely in Scotland.

The Department intends in due course to consult on draft guidance on implementation of the Regulations.