Guidance on Groundwater Pollution from Solvents [UK]

The Environment Agency has published a guidance on preventing groundwater pollution from solvents on its website on 11th February 2016.

This guidance is aimed at anyone utilising, storing or transporting solvents in their business activities. It is strongly advised by the Environment Agency that anyone using or storing solvents follow the groundwater protection code of practice the guidance details.

The guidance details a variety of topics from what are types of solvent to drains, signage and disposal.

A solvent is described as a substance designed to act on another substance in the following ways:

• dissolver
• disperser
• degreaser
• viscosity adjuster
• surface tension adjuster
• preserver
• plasticiser

If you use any substance that acts in the aforementioned ways on your business premises, it is advised that you use this guidance to ensure you are correctly using, storing and disposing or any solvents which will prevent any potential groundwater contamination.

For more details refer directly to the guidance available.

Sources:

Guidance: Prevent groundwater pollution from solvents, published on the Environment Agency’s Website on 11th February 2016.

Read a related article about Substances in the Water Environment.

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