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Consultation on amendments to water abstraction licences in England and Wales

   

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Ref: 96/09
Date: 29 April 2009

Defra today published a consultation on amendments to water abstraction licences in England and Wales.

The Environment Agency issues abstraction licences to any organisation that needs to move water from any water supply that exceeds 20 cubic metres a day.

The consultation is seeking views on new regulations that will bring some currently exempt activities, such as the irrigation of crops, under the licensing arrangements and maintain some exemptions, such as most abstractions within water meadows, that are a low risk to the environment and other water users.

The new regulations would come into force on 1 October 2009 and cover England and Wales and help to fulfill the duty under the EU’s Water Framework Directive.

These provisions were previously consulted on during the progression of the Water Act 2003.

 

Notes to Editors

  1. The consultation will run for 12 weeks.
  2. The consultation can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/water-act/index.htm
  3. Further information on the Water Framework Directive is available at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/wfd/index.htm

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Page published: 29 April 2009