diff --git a/swmmanywhere/graph_utilities.py b/swmmanywhere/graph_utilities.py
index f8754dc1..c15a0016 100644
--- a/swmmanywhere/graph_utilities.py
+++ b/swmmanywhere/graph_utilities.py
@@ -913,28 +913,6 @@ def __call__(self,
         # Copy graph to run shortest path on
         G_ = G.copy()
 
-        if not matched_outlets:
-            # In cases of e.g., an area with no rivers to discharge into or too
-            # small a buffer
-
-            # Identify the lowest elevation node
-            lowest_elevation_node = min(G.nodes, 
-                                    key = lambda x: G.nodes[x]['surface_elevation'])
-            
-            # Create a dummy river to discharge into
-            dummy_river = {'id' : 'dummy_river',
-                           'x' : G.nodes[lowest_elevation_node]['x'] + 1,
-                           'y' : G.nodes[lowest_elevation_node]['y'] + 1}
-            G_.add_node('dummy_river')
-            nx.set_node_attributes(G_, {'dummy_river' : dummy_river})
-
-            # Update function's dicts
-            matched_outlets = {'dummy_river' : lowest_elevation_node}
-            river_points['dummy_river'] = shapely.Point(dummy_river['x'],
-                                                        dummy_river['y'])
-            
-            logger.warning('No outlets found, using lowest elevation node as outlet')
-
         # Add edges between the paired river and street nodes
         for river_id, street_id in matched_outlets.items():
             # TODO instead use a weight based on the distance between the two nodes
diff --git a/tests/test_graph_utilities.py b/tests/test_graph_utilities.py
index cbd3b0a1..62b0b159 100644
--- a/tests/test_graph_utilities.py
+++ b/tests/test_graph_utilities.py
@@ -177,26 +177,6 @@ def test_calculate_weights():
     for u, v, data in G.edges(data=True):
         assert 'weight' in data.keys()
         assert math.isfinite(data['weight'])
-        
-def test_identify_outlets_no_river():
-    """Test the identify_outlets in the no river case."""
-    G, _ = load_street_network()
-    G = gu.assign_id(G)
-    G = gu.double_directed(G)
-    elev_fid = Path(__file__).parent / 'test_data' / 'elevation.tif'
-    addresses = parameters.FilePaths(base_dir = None,
-                                    project_name = None,
-                                    bbox_number = None,
-                                    model_number = None)
-    addresses.elevation = elev_fid
-    G = gu.set_elevation(G, addresses)
-    for ix, (u,v,d) in enumerate(G.edges(data=True)):
-        d['edge_type'] = 'street'
-        d['weight'] = ix
-    params = parameters.OutletDerivation()
-    G = gu.identify_outlets(G, params)
-    outlets = [(u,v,d) for u,v,d in G.edges(data=True) if d['edge_type'] == 'outlet']
-    assert len(outlets) == 1
 
 def test_identify_outlets_and_derive_topology():
     """Test the identify_outlets and derive_topology functions."""