Guidance

Temporary dewatering from excavations to surface water: RPS 261

Environment Agency regulatory position on temporary discharges of uncontaminated water from excavations to surface water without a water discharge activity permit.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 7 February 2018
• Last updated: 23 April 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 23 April 2026

     RPS 261 has been reviewed and extended to 30 April 2028.

  2. 6 January 2023

     Updated this regulatory position statement (RPS) to clarify when it applies and how to comply with it. Updated the next review date for this RPS to 30 April 2024.

  3. 28 April 2021

     We have extended the review date of this RPS to 30 April 2022.

  4. 30 April 2020

     We have extended the review date of this RPS to April 2021. We have also added the text: 'This RPS does not apply to any other activity, even if it is under the same legislation. You may still need other permits or licences for other activities you carry out.' And 'You must keep records for 2 years that show you have complied with this RPS. You must make these records available to the Environment Agency on request.'

  5. 16 July 2018

     New information on abstracting water from excavations following the the Water Abstraction and Impounding (Exemptions) Regulations 2017. We have also asked you to consider the available dilution when receiving water flows are low.

  6. 4 May 2018

     Clarified that you need to apply for a bespoke permit if your water discharge is from ‘pump and treat’ (pumping out contaminated groundwater or water from contaminated land so it can be treated).

  7. 7 February 2018

     First published.

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

Documents

Temporary dewatering from excavations to surface water: RPS 261

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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to get a water discharge activity permit when you discharge uncontaminated water (wholly or mainly rainwater) from site excavations to surface water. It does not apply to discharges to ground or groundwater. You usually need an environmental permit if you discharge liquid wastewater into surface water.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

This regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.