Regulatory Decision 060: Disposing of waste from clearing blocked sewers

This Regulatory Decision is valid until 1 May 2025 by which time it will be reviewed. You should check back at that time to ensure the Regulatory Decision is still valid.

NRW can withdraw or amend this regulatory decision before the review date if we consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RD relates to has not changed.

Regulatory Decision

This RD allows the disposal of waste from the clearance of blocked sewers back into the sewer.

It only applies when using tankers to empty a blocked sewer.

Conditions you must comply with 

You must only discharge sewage back into the same sewer network you took it from.

Enforcement

This regulatory decision (RD) does not change your legal requirement to get an environmental permit when you dispose of waste from clearing blocked sewers back into the same sewer network.

However, NRW will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with the need for an environmental permit if you meet the requirements in this RD.

Your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

• cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
• cause a nuisance through noise or odours
• adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest