How to ask for information about an overflow
Water companies must answer requests for environmental information. You can ask about an overflow’s permit, monitoring, discharges and planned improvements.
What to do
Write to the water company and say you are asking under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Name the outlet with its permit and activity references. You should normally get a reply within 20 working days.
Describe the outlet exactly
Copy the outlet name, permit reference, activity reference and grid reference from the outlet page. Outlets often have similar names, so these details help the company find the right one.
Ask clear questions
Ask for specific records, such as discharge start and stop times for a period, monitor faults, the permit conditions or planned improvement work. Short, specific requests are easier to answer.
The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency issues the permits and publishes the annual returns. You can also ask it for permit documents and its records about an outlet.
If you are not happy with the answer
Ask the organisation to review its response. If you are still not satisfied, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.