NetRegs GPP 22 Dealing with Spills - Guidance and Compliance

Question: What is NetRegs GPP 22 and how do we deal with spills correctly on an operational site?

Solution: NetRegs Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP) 22, Dealing with spills, sets out practical steps to reduce the likelihood of pollution and to respond quickly and effectively if a spill occurs. It is widely used across UK industry and is especially relevant where fuels, oils, chemicals, sewage, silage liquor, detergents, or other polluting liquids are stored, transferred, or used. A strong spill response plan, appropriate spill kits, spill containment, and drain protection help demonstrate environmental due diligence and support compliance.

What does GPP 22 cover in practical terms?

Question: What are the key actions GPP 22 expects a site to take before and after a spill?

Solution: GPP 22 focuses on prevention, preparedness, response, and reporting. In day-to-day operational terms this means:

• Prevent spills by designing safe storage and transfer areas, using bunding, drip trays and controlled decanting points.
• Prepare with suitable spill kits, drain protection products, clear signage, and trained staff.
• Respond quickly using safe isolation, containment, absorption, and correct waste handling.
• Report and review incidents, restock spill kits, and update procedures to prevent recurrence.

Primary reference: NetRegs (UK environmental guidance). If you need the specific PDF or latest version, follow NetRegs and search for GPP 22 Dealing with spills.

Spill prevention: how do we reduce spill risk on site?

Question: What are the best spill prevention measures that also support compliance?

Solution: The most effective spill control combines engineered containment with good operating discipline. Typical actions include:

• Bunding and secondary containment for tanks, IBCs, drums, dosing systems and chemical stores to capture leaks before they reach drains or ground.
• Drip trays under pumps, valves, couplings, generators and small containers to control day-to-day drips and weeps.
• Dedicated transfer points with clear labelling, compatible hoses, shut-off valves, and a spill kit positioned within immediate reach.
• Inspection and maintenance of hoses, gaskets, bund integrity, and tank overfill protection to reduce spill likelihood.

For sites interacting with water networks and wastewater operations, strong spill prevention is critical because pollutants can enter surface water, groundwater, foul sewers or surface water drains rapidly. Operational teams should treat any nearby drain as a high-risk pathway.

Spill response: what should staff do first?

Question: When a spill happens, what is the correct immediate response sequence?

Solution: A practical GPP 22-aligned response is:

1. Stop the source if safe to do so (close valve, right container, isolate pump).
2. Contain the spill using booms, socks, drain covers or temporary bunding to stop migration.
3. Protect drains immediately if there is any risk of entry to surface water or sewer.
4. Absorb and recover using pads, rolls, granules or specialist absorbents suited to the liquid.
5. Dispose of used absorbents and contaminated PPE as controlled waste where applicable, using appropriate containers and consignment routes.
6. Report and record the incident, including quantity, substance, pathway and actions taken.

This sequence supports fast spill containment, protects drains, and reduces environmental harm. It also helps show operational control if a regulator, client or auditor reviews the incident.

Drain protection: how do we stop pollution reaching water?

Question: What should we do if a spill is near a drain or could reach a watercourse?

Solution: Drain protection is often the difference between a manageable spill and a reportable pollution incident. Recommended actions include:

• Deploy a drain cover or drain seal over the gully or grate as the first barrier.
• Use spill booms to divert flow away from drains and to create a containment ring around the spill.
• Block or isolate drainage where your site procedures allow (for example, penstocks or isolation valves).

Where operationally relevant, maintain a clear site drainage map and label drains (surface water vs foul). This supports faster decision-making during a spill response and aligns with common NetRegs expectations on controlling pathways to water.

Choosing spill kits: what kit is right for our risk?

Question: How do we select spill kits that match GPP 22 and real site hazards?

Solution: Match spill kits to the liquids you use, the spill volume, and the likely spill locations:

• Oil spill kits for hydrocarbons (diesel, hydraulic oil, lubricants). Suitable for plant rooms, generator compounds, refuelling areas, and vehicle maintenance bays.
• Chemical spill kits for acids, alkalis, solvents and aggressive cleaning agents, common in dosing areas and chemical stores.
• General purpose spill kits for water-based liquids and coolants where chemical resistance is not the primary requirement.

Good practice is to position spill kits at point of use (not just in a store), label them clearly, and implement a restocking check after every use. For procurement and specification, you can also align kit capacity with the largest credible spill (for example, a split drum, failed hose, or IBC valve leak).

Related: Water utilities spill control and environmental protection.

Operational examples: where do spills typically happen?

Question: Which site activities should we prioritise for spill prevention and spill response planning?

Solution: Common spill scenarios include:

• Refuelling and mobile plant: diesel spills during refuelling, nozzle failures, tank overfills. Control using drip trays, booms, and drain protection.
• Chemical dosing and treatment areas: leaks from IBC valves, transfer pumps, bund outlets left open, or hose failures. Control using bunding, chemical spill kits, and clear isolation procedures.
• Maintenance workshops: oils, coolants and detergents spilled from parts washing and servicing. Control using absorbents and drip trays, plus waste segregation.
• Wastewater and pumping stations: mixed liquid hazards and sensitive drainage pathways. Control using rapid containment and drain sealing, with clear escalation routes.

These examples support a risk-based approach to spill management and help justify where spill kits, drain mats, drip trays and bunding should be installed.

Training, documentation and audits: what should we keep on file?

Question: What evidence helps show that our spill management system is working?

Solution: Keep simple, usable records that demonstrate spill preparedness and spill control:

• Spill response procedure aligned to GPP 22 principles (stop, contain, protect drains, clean-up, dispose, report).
• Site drainage plan and drain identification.
• Spill kit locations map, inspection checklist and restock log.
• Training records for staff and contractors (including toolbox talks for high-risk tasks).
• Incident logs with root cause and corrective actions.

These controls support environmental compliance and help reduce repeat incidents.

When do we escalate and report?

Question: How do we decide when a spill is serious enough to escalate?

Solution: Escalate immediately if a spill threatens drains, surface water, groundwater, or involves hazardous chemicals, significant volume, or any uncontrolled release. Your internal procedure should define triggers, call-out contacts, and containment priorities. NetRegs guidance is a strong reference point for building these triggers into your spill response plan.

How Serpro supports GPP 22 spill management

Question: How can we improve spill control quickly without overcomplicating procurement?

Solution: Serpro supplies practical spill management products for industrial and utility environments, including spill kits, absorbents, drain protection and spill containment to help reduce pollution risk and support GPP 22-style spill preparedness.

• Contact us to discuss spill risk, kit sizing and site placement.
• View our sector support: Water utilities.

Citations: NetRegs environmental guidance: https://www.netregs.org.uk/. Serpro context page: https://www.serpro.co.uk/water-utilities.