Most construction workers are aware of the risks of silt and oil pollution, but still allow concrete wagons to washout in leaky waste skips. Yet concrete washwater, even if it looks visibly clean, has the potential to cause much greater harm than silt or oil. If discharged into watercourses, washwater is highly polluting, which has led to the Environment Agency publishing much-needed guidance on its treatment and disposal The Regulatory Position Statement Managing concrete washwater on construction sites: good practice and temporary discharges to ground or to surface waters provides clear guidance on the environmental permit and treatment needs for the disposal of washwater generated from rinsing truck mixer chutes. However, we all know that time-pressured site managers may be tempted to ignore the advice and risk fines or prosecution, so we need to help them understand why it's vital they manage washwater appropriately and that there is a simple solution.
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