Guidance

Using final effluent from sewage treatment works to fill empty petrol tanks: RPS 320

Published 22 January 2025

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-final-effluent-from-sewage-treatment-works-to-fill-empty-petrol-tanks-rps-320/using-final-effluent-from-sewage-treatment-works-to-fill-empty-petrol-tanks-rps-320

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have and comply with an environmental permit for a waste operation when you use final effluent from sewage treatment works to fill empty petrol tanks to prevent vapour build up and explosion during renovation, improvement or construction works at petrol stations.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with this legal requirement provided that:

  • your activity meets the description set out in this RPS

  • you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS

In addition 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

1. Activity this RPS applies to

This RPS applies to operators who use final effluent from sewage treatment works to fill empty petrol tanks to prevent vapour build up and explosion during renovation, improvement or construction works at petrol stations.

2. Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • transfer the final effluent from the petrol tank to an authorised, permitted site after use
  • only use petrol tanks that are known to be secure and leak proof

3. When you must check back

The Environment Agency will review this RPS by 22 January 2028.

The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the review date if they consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RPS relates to has not changed.

You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn.

You can subscribe to email updates about this RPS. These will tell you if the RPS has changed and when it has been withdrawn.

4. If you cannot comply with this RPS

If you operate under this RPS but can no longer comply with it, you must:

5. Contact the Environment Agency

If you have any questions about this RPS email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk with RPS 320 in the subject.

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