Change a water abstraction or impoundment licence

You can view your water abstraction or impounding licence information online.

If your circumstances or need for water changes, you can apply to vary or revoke your abstraction or impounding licence.

Change (vary) your licence

Make sure you apply for the right type of variation. If you do not, we will reject your application and ask you to reapply.

Administrative only

You do not pay for administrative only variations.

Read the guidance Water resources licences: when and how you are charged to check what an administrative only charge is.

Transfer your abstraction licence

Transferring the whole of an abstraction or impounding licence from one person to another is an administrative only variation. There is no charge for this.

Use the form application to transfer an abstraction or impounding licence to apply.

Minor variation

You pay £830 for a minor variation.

Read the guidance Water resources licences: when and how you are charged to check what a minor variation is.

Use the form application to make minor changes to a water abstraction licence to apply.

Reduce the quantity you abstract

Reducing the amount of water you abstract is a minor variation. However, there is no charge for reducing the amount of water you abstract.

Use the form application to reduce the amount you abstract to apply.

Split (apportion) your licence

To split (apportion) an existing licence between 2 or more people is a minor variation. You pay £830 for a minor variation.

Use the form application to apportion an abstraction licence to apply.

Normal variation

You can find the charge for a normal variation for each licence type in Chapter 2: Water resources application charge tables in the charging scheme.

Read the guidance Water resources licences: when and how you are charged to check what a normal variation is.

Substantial variation

You can find the charge for a substantial variation for each licence type in Chapter 2: Water resources application charge tables in the charging scheme.

Read the guidance Water resources licences: when and how you are charged to check what a substantial variation is.

How to apply to vary your licence

To vary your licence, you’ll need to use the relevant water resource application forms and form guidance.

To apply to vary your abstraction licence read the guidance and complete all of these forms:

• Part E application charge for water resources licence
• Part A application for a water resources licence
• Part B application for a water resources abstraction licence
• Part C application for a water resources abstraction licence

To apply to vary your impounding licence read the guidance and complete all of these forms:

• Part E application charge for water resources licence
• Part A application for a water resources licence
• Part B application for a water resources abstraction licence
• Part D application for a water resources impoundment licence

You can use the Environmental permits and abstraction licences: tables of charges to work out how much it will cost to vary your licence.

Revoke your licence

There is no charge to revoke a licence.

Complete the form application to revoke a water abstraction licence to revoke your abstraction licence.

Make sure you fill in the correct licence number when you apply for a revocation.

Contact the Environment Agency if you want to revoke your impounding licence.

Death or bankruptcy

If the licence holder dies or is an individual who is declared bankrupt, the licence can become the responsibility of (can be ‘vested’ in) their trustee.

The trustee must tell the Environment Agency within 15 months that they are responsible for the licence. If they do not, the licence will become invalid after 15 months.

Use the form notification of death or bankruptcy of a water resources licence holder to deal with these circumstances.

Enforced changes to your licence

If your licensed abstraction is causing or could cause damage to the environment, the Environment Agency may propose to change or revoke your licence. This will include adding a time limit to the licence if it does not already have one, unless you propose to make the licence change voluntarily.

The licence holder may be entitled to compensation. However, if your licence needs to be changed or revoked because it is causing or could cause serious damage to the environment, you will not be entitled to compensation.

To help you understand whether you are eligible for compensation, read the leaflet Restoring sustainable abstraction: compensation, or email the Environment Agency Restoring Sustainable Abstraction team:

Email: rsa@environment-agency.gov.uk

Contact the Environment Agency