New Regulations to Control Diffuse Pollution in Scotland
The Water Environment (Diffuse Pollution) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 come into force in Scotland on April 1st 2008 after being made on the 20th of February. These regulations make amendments to the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 and to the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (SSAFO) with the overarching aim of ensuring that water bodies are not at risk of failing Water Framework Directive targets due to diffuse pollution from rural land use.
General Binding Rules (GBRs) were introduced under the Controlled Activities Regulations to control the impact of diffuse pollution on the water environment from rural land use activities. Under the 2008 Regulations these have been added to, with new rules relating to:
(a) the storage and application of fertiliser;
(b) the keeping of livestock;
(c) land cultivation;
(d) the discharge of water run off via a surface water drainage system;
(e) the construction and maintenance of certain types of road and track;
(f) the application of pesticides; and
(g) the operating of sheep dipping facilities.
The introduction of GBRs to control diffuse pollution will provide for land managers a simple set of rules without any form filling or the need to seek authorisation.
The SSAFO Regulations are amended to allow provision for alternative forms of disposal for certain types of slurry and silage effluent, specifically allowing ‘dirty water’ run-off from certain areas to be drained and treated through a constructed farm wetland. These constructed farm wetlands would be required to perform a treatment function to ensure that the water discharging from them into a water environment would not result in a deterioration of the status of the receiving watercourse.
The full text of the Regulations can be accessed from: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2008/ssi_20080054_en_1
Source: www.opsi.gov.uk (accessed 04/03/08)