Run-off from a small construction site less than or equal to 4 hectares

This General Binding Rule (GBR) applies to the discharge of water run-off from a construction site to the water environment where the site, including any constructed access tracks, does not:

1. exceed 4 hectares,
2. contain a road or track length in excess of 5 kilometres, or
3. include any area of more than 1 hectare or any length of more than 500 metres on ground with a slope in excess of 25 degrees.

Authorisation level

General Binding Rule (GBR)

Rules

Run-off from a small construction site less than or equal to 4 hectares is covered by General Binding Rules. If you intend to carry out this activity, and you comply with the rules set out below, your activity will be authorised. You don’t need to apply to SEPA for an authorisation.

If you carry out an activity under this authorisation you must comply with the rules. It is an offence if you do not comply with the rules.

If you cannot comply with the rules, you will need a different type of authorisation.

General Binding Rule (GBR) for run-off from a small construction site less than or equal to 4 hectares

1. All reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the discharge does not introduce any substance or heat to the water environment which may give rise to harm to the water environment,

2. the discharge must not—

   1. contain any trade effluent or domestic sewage, or
   2. result in visible discolouration, iridescence, foaming or sewage fungus in the water environment,

3. the discharge must not result in the destabilisation of the banks or bed of the receiving surface water,

4. the discharge must not contain any water run-off from any built developments, unless during construction those developments are drained by a SUD system or equivalent system equipped to avoid the introduction of any substance or heat to the water environment which may give rise to harm to the water environment,

5. the discharge must not contain any water run-off from—

   1. any fuel delivery areas constructed on or after 1 April 2007, or any areas where vehicles, plant and equipment are refuelled constructed on or after 1 April 2007,
   2. vehicle loading or unloading bays constructed on or after 1 April 2007 where potentially environmentally harmful matter is handled, or
   3. oil and chemical storage handling and delivery areas constructed on or after 1 April 2007,

6. all parts of a construction site on which—

   1. operations first commenced on or after 1 June 2018, and
   2. any works are to be undertaken, or any vehicles are to be operated or parked,

   must be drained by a surface water drainage system with capacity to accommodate the maximum volume of run-off that would reasonably be expected to occur from that land during the period of construction,

7. all facilities with which the surface water drainage system is equipped to avoid the introduction of any substance or heat to the water environment which may give rise to harm to the water environment, including oil interceptors, silt traps and SUD system attenuation, settlement and treatment facilities, must be maintained in good order and repair,

8. all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that any matter liable to block, obstruct, or otherwise impair the ability of the surface water drainage system to avoid the introduction of any substance or heat to the water environment which may give rise to harm to the water environment is prevented from entering the drainage system.

Help and guidance

• Glossary of terms
• WAT-G-075: EASR Guidance: The discharge of water run-off from construction sites.