Written question asked by Mark Todd (Labour) on Thursday, 2 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 March 2006. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 March 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Brownfield Sites (Borehole Soakways)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on applications for the use of borehole soakways on brownfield sites with surface drainage constraints.

Answer: Under the Water Resources Act the Environment Agency is responsible for controlling discharges to groundwater, taking into account whether such discharges could lead to pollution. Under the Groundwater Regulations 1998, disposals to land which contain substances listed in the Regulations require prior authorisation. For cases where pollution of groundwater might result, the Environment Agency may not grant consent. Thus where surface water contains polluting matter; including listed substances, prior authorisation to discharge or dispose of it is required.Under the WFD direct discharges of pollutants to groundwater will be prohibited, subject to certain exemptions which currently do not include surface water drainages.

Secondary information