Guidance
Protecting groundwater from human burials
How to avoid causing groundwater pollution when developing cemeteries for burying human remains.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guidance is for local councils or other cemetery operators. It sets out the Environment Agency鈥檚 approach to the regulation of cemeteries to protect the environment. It covers both new cemetery developments and existing cemeteries.
Updates to this page
Published 1 April 2022
Last updated 1 April 2025
show all updates
-
Added a link to the Environment Agency's consultation on standard rules permits for cemetery developments.
-
Updated the 'bespoke permits' section to link to the latest fees.
-
Updated the guide to reflect the requirements that apply from 2 October 2023.
-
First published.