Guidance: Groundwater protection position statements

These position statements describe the Environment Agency’s approach to managing and protecting groundwater. They update Groundwater protection: principles and practice (GP3).

This document helps anyone whose current or proposed activities have an impact on, or are affected by groundwater such as:

• developers
• planners
• environmental permit applicants and holders
• water abstractors

Many of the approaches set out in the position statements are not statutory but may be included in, or referenced by, statutory guidance and legislation.

Environment Agency staff use these position statements as a framework to make decisions on activities that could impact on groundwater. This clear approach aims to remove uncertainty and potentially inconsistent decision-making.