Abstraction licensing
One of the ways the Environment Agency manages water resources in England and Wales is through a system of issuing licences for abstracting (removing) water, which they have had in place since the 1960s and now has its legislative basis in Part II Chapter II of in the Water Resources Act 1991.
An abstraction licence is generally needed for taking water from rivers and aquifers, though there are some exceptions.
An impounding licence is needed before the construction of any structure such as a weir or dam in a river, and for the continued operation of that structure.
Abstraction charges are payable by most licensed abstractors.
To find out if you need a licence and how to apply for one see the Environment Agency’s website.
Latest News
Non-legislative changes
The Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme was set up by the Environment Agency to identify and catalogue and solve those sites which may be at risk from abstraction.
The Environment Agency has Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies to provide a consistent and structured approach to local water resources management, recognising the reasonable needs of abstractors and the needs of the environment.
Legislative changes
In 2009, Defra and the Welsh Government consulted on the removal and creation of various exemptions from licence control. The proposed new Regulations to bring these proposals into force will implement the remaining abstraction provisions of the Water Act 2003. Changes to the abstraction and impounding regime through the Water Act 2003 will further our ability to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive.
The Water White Paper will provide further details on the direction and process for intended reforms to the abstraction management regime announced in the Natural Environment White Paper. A key element of these reforms will be to consider how the regime can deliver a more efficient allocation of water while also protecting water ecosystems.