Code of Practice 12:Water Quality

• Aims to protect and drive continuous improvement in water quality and aquatic environments

Land activities

• Pollution of water & cumulative effects to be considered where pollutants are released

• Removal of contaminated water to an artificial wetland may be required so that nutrients can be removed

Definitions• Surface water: fresh water that is visible above

ground• Groundwater: water that exists in the pore spaces

and fractures in rock and sediment beneath the Earth's surface

• Mixing zone: an area of water where pollutants from a point source discharge are mixed with cleaner water.

Releasing pollutants into surface water & groundwater

Considerations:• Effects on flora / fauna• Recreational impact• Impact on water quality objectives for areas

outside mixing zone• Cumulative effects

Responsibilities

Discharges of pollution should not:• Cause the loss of sea grass or other native

aquatic vegetation or animals • Cause an increase in non-native species or

algae• Make the water harmful or offensive• Increase turbidity

• The competent authority may consider whether a polluter needs to monitor their emissions

Impact monitoring• Looking at the impacts of water pollution on

humans, nature, businesses and the economy etc.

Required for: • Large scale activities• Hazardous activities• To assess future disposal strategies• Where there is concern