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ARTICLE · 14 FEBRUARY 2006

Critical Ruling: PPC Permits Required for Waste Water Treatment Works

Pinsent Masons
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United Utilities Water Plc v Environment Agency for England and Wales (2006) EWHC 9 (QB) </I>In a test case brought by the UK's largest water and waste water operator, United Utilities, the High Court has declared that four of its waste water treatment plants do fall under the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Regulations 2000.

United KingdomReal Estate and Construction
Sarah Thomas
Sarah Thomas
Helen Keele
Helen Keele

United Utilities Water Plc v Environment Agency for England and Wales (2006) EWHC 9 (QB)

In a test case brought by the UK's largest water and waste water operator, United Utilities, the High Court has declared that four of its waste water treatment plants do fall under the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Regulations 2000. United Utilities (UU) will now have to ascertain which of its remaining 595 plants will also require PPC permits. In its judgment, the High Court was critical of the drafting of the PPC Regulations stating the Court had a ‘formidable task’ in interpreting the PPC Regulations which used language which was ‘obscure and its meaning difficult to grasp’. The High Court left it open to either party to appeal given the difficult questions of interpretation this case has raised.

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