Groundwater Authorisations

The Groundwater Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 transpose the requirements of the EC Groundwater Directive (80/68/EEC). The Directive seeks to prevent the direct or indirect discharge of List I substances to groundwater and control pollution resulting from the direct or indirect discharge of List II substances to groundwater.

Under these Regulations disposal, and tipping for the purpose of disposal of List I and List II substances to land is subject to a formal system of authorisation. For the majority of farms this means an authorisation for the disposal of:

• waste sheep dip, including cosmetic dips and
• waste pesticides, including tank washings

A Groundwater Authorisation will include conditions which ensure that the disposal will cause no risk of entry of chemicals into groundwater.

A register of authorisations is held by NIEA and these are open to public inspection.

Applying for a Groundwater Authorisation

• Your application will be acknowledged within three working days of receipt.
• Depending on the complexity of your application it will be processed within four months unless a time extension is agreed with you.
• If your application is refused you will be told how to appeal.
• If you need advice please feel free to contact the Agricultural Regulations Team at: 028 92 623278.

Guidance notes and a groundwater application form can be obtained by writing to:

Groundwater Authorisations
NIEA
Agricultural Regulations Team
17 Antrim Road
Lisburn
BT28 3AL

or you can download a copy:

Related Document Links:

Please note that due to a change in Office location, the contact details for NIEA Agricultural Regulations Teams in the following document links are now incorrect.

For Groundwater related documents the contact details are:

Groundwater Authorisations
NIEA
Agricultural Regulations Team
17 Antrim Road
Lisburn
BT28 3AL

Tel. 028 92 623278
Fax. 028 92 623011

• Groundwater Application form ( pdf - 65 KB )
• Groundwater Guidance notes for farmers and growers ( pdf - 400 KB )
• Groundwater General Guidance notes ( pdf - 30 KB )

Related Organisation links:

The Groundwater Regulations online from OPSI

Pollution prevention advice regarding Pesticides in Northern Ireland is addressed in Chapter 6 of the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Prevention of Pollution of Water (DARD).

Additional useful information can also be found on the Environment Agency website in PPG 9

Pollution prevention advice regarding Sheep Dip in Northern Ireland is addressed in Chapter 7 of the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Prevention of Pollution of Water (DARD).

Additional useful information can also be found on the Environment Agency website in PPG 12

or if you wish to discuss, please feel free to phone: 028 90 254824