water

Life cannot be sustained without water, therefore water pollution control is essential. Despite the Earth’s surface consisting of approximately 75% water, access to this resource can often be difficult.

It is estimated that some 40% of the world’s population now live in countries with water shortages. Within the UK, warmer summers and milder winters have led to water use restrictions for parts of the country. The south of England has been particularly affected by water resource demands.

Water pollution legislation sets out to protect the water environment. The law on water pollution covers measures such as the regulation of effluent discharges (direct to ‘natural’ waters or indirectly via the sewerage system), or through action regarding spillages, leakages and other releases of materials and wastes which may reach the water environment.

Water pollution prevention through the control of discharges is incorporated into the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regime established by the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999.