Prevent before you need a cure

When it comes to flooding pollution control, prevention should be your watchword. With the Environment Agency’s PPGs (Pollution Prevention Guidelines) withdrawn in 2014, a new set of regulatory guidance (GPP: Guidance for Pollution Prevention) is to be published, however this is not yet complete.

Meantime, the European Environmental Directive 2004/35/EC works on a ‘polluter pays’ principle. Fines can be unlimited and you may be prosecuted for polluting or damaging protected species, natural habitats, water or soil. Pollution may be contaminants from wastewater (sewage), production waste, agricultural run-off, oil spills or loss from storage vessels, chemicals and so on. Any strategy to prevent pollution should include keeping your drains in good shape to reduce the risk of the system blocking and backing up.

Pollution prevention partners

Partnering with Lanes to implement a Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) service is a great place to start. The PPM involves regular visits by our specialist team to keep your foul and surface water drainage in full working order. A system which can operate at optimum capacity is better equipped to cope with the severe weather events we are seeing more of thanks to the effects of climate change.

Pollution control technology

Having a PPM programme in place is a positive step to managing the threat of pollution, but you may also benefit from installing proactive technology, such as monitoring devices or specialist non-return valves in your drainage system.

For expert advice on pollution control and mitigating the impact of flooding and extreme weather, simply use the contact form or call the Lanes team on 0800 526 488