Why We Are Consulting
Legislation requires groundwater is protected against pollution and deterioration. This means preventing or limiting entry of pollutants (substances liable to cause pollution) to groundwater. The respective environment agencies are responsible for considering whether a potential pollutant should be determined to be a hazardous substance or a non-hazardous pollutant as defined in the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC). Regulation of activities to protect groundwater is dealt with separately by the respective environment agencies.
The Joint Agencies Groundwater Directive Advisory Group (JAGDAG) recommends the determination of the status of substances to the environment agencies as well as reviewing assessments made by these agencies. JAGDAG comprises representatives from the Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), the Environmental Protection Agency Ireland (EPA), Public Health England (PHE), Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Welsh Government (WG) and industry. Assessments are then subject to public consultation and may be subject to further review by the respective environment agencies, before a final determination is made. These final substances would then be listed on the ‘JAGDAG Confirmed Substances’ page
Consultation 2024
This current consultation aims to seek views on the determination of 25 substances. 17 Hazardous Substances and 8 Non-Hazardous Pollutants. These interim determinations have been made following the ‘Methodology for the determination of hazardous substances for the purposes of the Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC)’.
Consultation Opened: Friday 20th December 2024
Consultation Closes: Friday 14th March 2025
Once the consultation has closed, responses will be reviewed and considered. A consultation response report will then be published to summarise findings and confirm final conclusions.
