30H Discharges into and from sewers etc.
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Propose a changeLaw
Control of Pollution Act 1974
United Kingdom · statute
Ask the law about thisMore laws of United KingdomFor machines: Markdown
In force since 2026-10-31, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
sha256 83a8c6a493371034aa63ba52ef739709d72606f112be7fec629190675da501c5
Contents: 141 provisions
- Title and introductory text
- 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 3 Prohibition of unlicensed disposal of waste.
- 4 Provisions supplementary to s. 3.
- 5 Licences to dispose of waste.
- 6 Provisions supplementary to s. 5.
- 7 Variation of conditions and revocation of licences.
- 8 Transfer and relinquishment of licences.
- 9 Supervision of licensed activities.
- 10 Appeals to Secretary of State from decisions with respect to licences.
- 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 12 Collection of waste.
- 13 Dustbins etc.
- 14 Disposal of waste in England and Wales.
- 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 16 Removal of waste deposited in breach of licensing provisions.
- 17 Special provisions with respect to certain dangerous or intractable waste.
- 18 Application of preceding provisions to other waste.
- 19 Powers of disposal authorities as respects other waste.
- 20 Reclamation of waste.
- 21 Production of heat and electricity from waste etc.
- 22 Street cleaning etc.
- 23 Prohibition of parking to facilitate street cleaning.
- 24 Litter.
- 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 26 Outfall pipes for sewage disposal works.
- 27 Interference with refuse tips and dustbins etc.
- 28 Supplementary provisions relating to pipes.
- 29 Modification of Parts I and II to avoid duplication of control.
- 30 Interpretation etc. of Part I.
- 30Y Introductory.
- 30Z Mine operators to give SEPA six months’ notice of any proposed abandonment.
- 30A Waters to which Part II applies.
- 30B Classification of quality waters.
- 30C Water quality objectives.
- 30D General duties to achieve and maintain objectives etc.
- 30E Consultation and collaboration.
- 30F Pollution offences.
- 30G Prohibition of certain discharges by notice or regulations.
- 30H Discharges into and from sewers etc.
- 30I Defence to principal offences in respect of authorised discharges.
- 30J Other defences to principal offences.
- 31 Control of pollution of rivers and coastal waters etc.
- 31A Requirements to take precautions against pollution.
- 31B Nitrate sensitive areas.
- 31C Registering of agreement.
- 31D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 33 Control of sanitary appliances on vessels.
- 34 Consents for discharges of trade and sewage effluent etc.
- 35 Reference to Secretary of State of certain applications for consent.
- 36 Provisions supplementary to ss. 34 and 35.
- 37 Revocation of consents and alteration and imposition of conditions.
- 38 Restriction on variation and revocation of consent and of previous variation.
- 38A General review of consents.
- 39 Appeals to the Secretary of State.
- 40 Transitional provisions relating to consent.
- 41 Registers.
- 42A Exclusion from registers of information affecting national security.
- 42B Exclusion from registers of certain confidential information.
- 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 46 Operations by river purification authorities to remedy or forestall pollution of water.
- 46A Notices requiring persons to carry out anti-pollution operations.
- 46B Grant of, and compensation for, rights of entry etc.
- 46C Appeals against works notices.
- 46D Consequences of not complying with a works notice.
- 47 Duty of water authorities to deal with waste from vessels etc.
- 48 Power of water authorities to exclude unregistered vessels from rivers etc.
- 49 Deposits and vegetation in rivers etc.
- 49A Enforcement notices as respects discharge consents.
- 49B Appeals against enforcement notices.
- 50 Investigation of water pollution problems arising from closure of mines.
- 51 Codes of good agricultural practice.
- 52 Charges in respect of certain discharges in England and Wales.
- 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 55A Regulations under this Part.
- 56 Interpretation etc. of Part II.
- 57 Periodical inspections by local authorities.
- 58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 58A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 58B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 59A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 60 Control of noise on construction sites.
- 61 Prior consent for work on construction sites.
- 62 Noise in streets.
- 63 Designation of zones.
- 64 Register of noise levels.
- 65 Noise exceeding registered level.
- 66 Reduction of noise levels.
- 67 New buildings etc.
- 68 Noise from plant or machinery.
- 69 Execution of works by local authority.
- 70 Appeals to Secretary of State and magistrates’ court.
- 71 Codes of practice for minimising noise.
- 72 “Best practicable means”.
- 73 Interpretation and other supplementary provisions.
- 74 Penalties.
- 75 Regulations about motor fuel.
- 76 Regulations about sulphur content of oil fuel for furnaces or engines.
- 77 Provisions supplementary to ss. 75 and 76.
- 78 Cable burning.
- 79 Research and publicity.
- 80 Notices requiring information about air pollution.
- 81 Appeals against notices.
- 82 Regulations about research and publicity.
- 83 Provision by local authorities of information for Secretary of State.
- 84 Interpretation of Part IV.
- 85 Appeals to Crown Court or Court of Session against decisions of magistrates’ court or sheriff.
- 86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 87 Miscellaneous provisions relating to legal proceedings.
- 88 Civil liability for contravention of s. 3(3).
- 89 Expenses and receipts of Secretary of State etc.
- 90 Establishment charges and interest in respect of certain expenses of authorities.
- 91 Rights of entry and inspection etc.
- 92 Provisions supplementary to s. 91.
- 93 Power of authorities to obtain information.
- 94 Prohibition of disclosure of information.
- 95 Service of documents on and by certain undertakers.
- 96 Local inquiries.
- 97 Default powers.
- 98 Interpretation of Part V.
- 99 Alteration of penalties.
- 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 101 Disposal of waste etc by Atomic Energy Authority.
- 102 Power to give effect to international agreements.
- 103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 104 Orders and regulations.
- 105 Interpretation etc—general.
- 106 General application to Scotland.
- 107 Application to Isles of Scilly.
- 108 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments, and repeals.
- 109 Short title, commencement and extent.
- SCHEDULE 2 Alteration of penalties
- SCHEDULE 3 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments
- SCHEDULE 4 Repeals
Proposed changes to this act
No one has proposed a change to this act yet.
141 provisions
30I Defence to principal offences in respect of authorised discharges.
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Propose a change30J Other defences to principal offences.
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Propose a change31 Control of pollution of rivers and coastal waters etc.
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Propose a change31A Requirements to take precautions against pollution.
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Propose a change31B Nitrate sensitive areas.
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Propose a change31C Registering of agreement.
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Propose a change31D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change33 Control of sanitary appliances on vessels.
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Propose a change34 Consents for discharges of trade and sewage effluent etc.
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Propose a change35 Reference to Secretary of State of certain applications for consent.
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Propose a change36 Provisions supplementary to ss. 34 and 35.
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Propose a change37 Revocation of consents and alteration and imposition of conditions.
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Propose a change38 Restriction on variation and revocation of consent and of previous variation.
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Propose a change38A General review of consents.
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Propose a change39 Appeals to the Secretary of State.
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Propose a change40 Transitional provisions relating to consent.
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Propose a change41 Registers.
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Propose a change42A Exclusion from registers of information affecting national security.
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Propose a change42B Exclusion from registers of certain confidential information.
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Propose a change43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change46 Operations by river purification authorities to remedy or forestall pollution of water.
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Propose a change46A Notices requiring persons to carry out anti-pollution operations.
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Propose a change46B Grant of, and compensation for, rights of entry etc.
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Propose a change46C Appeals against works notices.
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Propose a change46D Consequences of not complying with a works notice.
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Propose a change47 Duty of water authorities to deal with waste from vessels etc.
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Propose a change48 Power of water authorities to exclude unregistered vessels from rivers etc.
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Propose a change49 Deposits and vegetation in rivers etc.
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Propose a change49A Enforcement notices as respects discharge consents.
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Propose a change49B Appeals against enforcement notices.
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Propose a change50 Investigation of water pollution problems arising from closure of mines.
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Propose a change51 Codes of good agricultural practice.
(1) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument approve any code of practice issued (whether by him or by another person) for the purpose of— (a) giving practical guidance to persons engaged in agriculture with respect to activities that may affect controlled waters; and (b) promoting what appear to him to be desirable practices by such persons for avoiding or minimising the pollution of any such waters, and may at any time by such an order approve a modification of such a code or withdraw his approval of such a code or modification. (2) A contravention of a code of practice as for the time being approved under this section shall not of itself give rise to any criminal or civil liability, ... (3) The Secretary of State shall not make an order under this section unless he has first consulted the river purification authorities.
Propose a change52 Charges in respect of certain discharges in England and Wales.
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Propose a change