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Environment Agency gov.uk

Prevent groundwater pollution from solvents

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Most solvents are hazardous substances. Even in small quantities, they cause pollution and can seriously impact the quality of groundwater making it unfit for drinking water or other uses such as food production.

You should read and follow this groundwater protection code of practice if you:

  • own or work at a site where solvents are used or stored
  • are involved in decommissioning such a site

    • If you allow the discharge of solvents directly to groundwater, or dispose of solvents on land without an environmental permit, you’re breaking the law and could face imprisonment or an unlimited fine.

    By using this code, you will be able to show that you have taken steps to avoid pollution and are complying with your legal requirements under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations (2016). You must also follow applicable guidance and laws like the health and safety regulations.

    The Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales will look at whether you followed or are likely to follow the code when deciding whether to serve a notice under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Such notices can include the requirement for you to get a permit, or to stop your solvent use or storage on site. Failure to comply with a notice is also a criminal offence.

    Types of solvents and groundwater pollution risks

    A solvent is any substance that’s designed to act on another substance as one of the following:

    You must prevent groundwater pollution when:

  • storing solvents (either as unused product or waste)

    • Develop an environmental management system

    You need to show that you operate your facility in an environmentally responsible manner by developing operational control procedures in an environmental management system (EMS).

    Your EMS should show the facility’s operation control procedures by establishing:

  • what measures you are going to have to protect the environment
  • details of staff training and emergency response procedures
  • plans for upgrading the facility’s engineering requirements

    • This is an extract. The publication continues at the source.

    Read the original at the source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-groundwater-pollution-from-solvents

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    Provenance

    Organization
    Environment Agency — imported from official source
    Official source
    https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency.atom ATOM
    Imported
    September 24, 2026 15:00
    Versions
    1 recorded
    Identity
    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-groundwater-pollution-from-solvents#2026-09-24T14:5...

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