Overview

Surface water runoff is rain, snow or other precipitation that runs off roofs, car parks, roads and anything it happens to pick up along the way, such as waste, silt, oil, grease, detergents, pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, and other materials. The Environment Agency (EA) has identified storm water runoff as a significant source of pollution to surface waters such as lakes, rivers, streams and even the ocean.

The EA regulates point sources that discharge pollutants (from both storm water and non-storm water) into waters of the UK through provisions of the Trade Effluent and Pollution of Surface Waters regulations.

Whilst normal storm/surface water run-off isn't subjected to any regulation, other discharges to the water course may be, such as oil drips from vehicle maintenance of water run-off contaminated with chimney emissions, which may require a Consent to Discharge permit.

For further details see Trade Effluent and Pollution of Surface Waters.