S.L. 549.50 Art. 20Prevention of water status deterioration, air and soil pollution. S.L. 423.20 S.L. 549.10 S.L. 423.16 S.L. 423.20

(1) The operator shall take the necessary measures in order to meet Community or Maltese environmental standards, in particular to prevent, in accordance with the Water Policy

Framework Regulations, the deterioration of current water status, inter alia, by:

(a) evaluating the leachate generation potential, including contaminant content of the leachate, of the deposited waste during both the operational and after-closure phase of the waste facility, and determining the water balance of the waste facility;

(b) preventing or minimising leachate generation and surface water or groundwater and soil from being contaminated by the waste; and

(c) collecting and treating contaminated water and leachate from the waste facility to the appropriate standard required for their discharge.

(2) The operator shall take adequate measures to prevent or reduce dust and gas emissions.

(3) Where, on the basis of an assessment of environmental risks, taking into account, in particular, the Pollution Caused by Certain Dangerous Substances discharged into the Aquatic Environment Regulations, the Protection of Groundwater against

Pollution caused by Certain Dangerous Substances Regulations, or the Water Policy Framework Regulations, as applicable, the competent authority has decided that collection and treatment of leachate is not necessary or it has been established that the waste facility poses no potential hazard to soil, groundwater or surface water, the requirements set out in sub-regulation (1)(b) and (c) may be reduced or waived accordingly.