Groundwater Licences (Scotland)

All groundwater abstraction and discharge in Scotland is regulated by the SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency).

Groundwater Abstracted

PDF:  Dewatering Advice Flowchart on Abstraction Regulatory Position – Scotland

Groundwater abstracted from dewatering is regulated in Scotland by the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (more commonly known as Controlled Activity Regulations (CAR). Abstractions - Water resource authorisations and data returns.

Temporary groundwater abstraction for construction dewatering abstraction is regulated initially through general binding rules (GBR15) detailed in The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations - A Practical Guide v9.4 (July 2024), If the conditions of GBR15 cannot be met authorisation and an abstraction licence by SEPA will be needed for dewatering operations. Unlike England & Wales well(s) or borehole(s) are considered and form part of the GBR. Please contact us to check if any potential dewatering operation falls in or out of the GBR. Other conditions include:

• If possible, discharge of the abstracted groundwater back to the water environment.
• Groundwater may only be abstracted at the site within a period of 180 days beginning with the first day on which groundwater is abstracted.
• No dewatering wells can be within 250m of any surface water unless discharged to the same surface water body at the nearest point via a surface water drainage system authorised under CAR and subject to consent. If you are unable to met this condition then recharge wells can be used that recharge unpolluted abstracted groundwater back to the same aquifer without intervening us.
• No dewatering wells/wellpoints within 250m of a wetland.
• All reasonable steps to ensure no discharge of silts.
• All reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the discharge of abstracted groundwater does not result in pollution of the water environment.

Groundwater abstraction licences have differing designations formats depending on abstraction flow. For most dewatering projects its falls within either a ‘simple licence’ for abstractions >50 and ≤ 2000m3/day and a ‘complex’ licence for abstractions > 2000m3/day.

Stuart Wells – Advice Flowchart on Dewatering & Groundwater Abstraction Regulations (Scotland)

Stuart Wells can oversee and manage the whole process and complete the necessary forms and detailed information required for SEPA to acquire the required license. A licence application requires Form’s A and D1 with SEPA having a 4 month determination period. The licence will include a fee that has significant increases, dependant on volume and use.

Discharge to Surface Water (Rivers, Streams etc...)

Scotland, if you discharge anything to the water environment you may require an authorisation from SEPA. Some discharges are authorised if you comply with the general binding rules (GBR). detailed in The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations - A Practical Guide v9.4 (July 2024), Authorisation from SEPA is not required for discharges of uncontaminated groundwater abstracted directly through boreholes/well pointing and discharged without contact with any other drainage run-off, in order to dewater construction sites, however pollution control measures will need to be in place, Our advice would be to contact us for clarification on if SEPA registration and potential licences need to be gained.

Discharge to Utility Outfall (Sewer etc...)>

If discharge is to the public foul drainage system provided by Scottish Water the sole water utility provider in Scotland. As groundwater is deemed to be a trade effluent, an application to discharge trade effluent needs to be made. Once you have a consent, you must comply with all its conditions. Normally a cost/m3 of discharge applies with regular inspection and monitoring. We would advise you contact us for more information and to discuss on how we can assist.

We would advise you contact us for more information and to discuss on how we can assist.