Environment Agency
Details
This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to get a water discharge activity permit when you discharge uncontaminated water (wholly or mainly rainwater) from site excavations to surface water. It does not apply to discharges to ground or groundwater. You usually need an environmental permit if you discharge liquid wastewater into surface water.
However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action when you do this without a water discharge activity permit if you comply with all the requirements in this RPS.
This enforcement position does not apply to any other legal requirements.