RPS 235 Update
January 13th 2025
RPS 235: Treating and using water containing suspending solids at construction sites
The recent RPS update published on the 23rd October 2024, relating to treating and using water containing suspended solids at construction sites before use or disposal. This RPS applies to storing, treating and using waste water containing suspended solids (excluding concrete or grouts), within a construction site before use or disposal.
What does this mean for customers?
If you are producing waste water containing suspended solids on your site, you must ensure the following is met and adhered to.
Storage
- Securely store the water, so the water cannot escape, and unauthorised people cannot access it.
- Contain the water before treatment and use, for example through an impermeable settling tank, engineered lagoon or leakproof skips.
- Maintain a freeboard of 10% of the capacity of the tank, engineered lagoon or leakproof skip to prevent overtopping.
Treatment
- Filtration, settlement lagoons or physical dewatering, for example in a settlement tank, silt pressor other specialised treatment system.
- Correcting the pH using solutions or carbon dioxide before use or lawful disposal.
- Using products that solidify water containing concrete prior to use or transfer from the construction site.
Use
You must not use:
- treated water containing suspended solids to suppress dust within a groundwater source protection zone 1, or within 50m of a point from which water is abstracted for domestic or food production purposes including private drinking water supplies.
- more water than necessary to suppress dust – examples of excessive use would include use on already wet ground, water ponding on the land and runoff from the location where the water is being used.
- water containing suspended solids from excavations at sites known or suspected to be contaminated by oil, metals, hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides or other polluting substances.
- treated water containing suspended solids other than to wash equipment, make cement, mortar, and so on or for dust suppression.
If disposal off site is required, Go Green have various service options to support with compliance of this RPS, from Portable settlement tanks to tanker removal services. Please speak to your account management team, who will provide suitable options for your site and specific requirements.
For more information – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/treating-and-using-water-that-contains-concrete-and-silt-at-construction-sites-rps-235
