Apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence

Types of water resources licence

There are different types of water resources licences you can apply for. They are:

• a full abstraction licence – for most types of water abstraction over 20 cubic metres a day
• a transfer abstraction licence – to move over 20 cubic metres of water a day from one source to another without intervening use
• a temporary abstraction licence – to abstract more than 20 cubic metres of water a day over a period of less than 28 days
• an impounding licence – to create or alter an impoundment structure such as a sluice, weir or dam

Before you apply

NotFirst, all abstraction and impoundment activities need a licence. Checkcheck if you need an abstraction licence or  or impounding licence. If you carry out an activity without a licence when you need one the Environment Agency may take enforcement action.

IfCheck you need a licence, you must check your local local abstraction licensing strategy to to find out:

• what the water availability status is in your catchment
• if you are likely to get a licence

If your local abstraction licensing strategy shows that you are not likely to get a licence, you may be able to enter into an agreement with an existing licence holder to trade abstraction rights.

Check if you must provide provide safe passage for eels or get approval for a fish pass as part of your activity. If you do not do this, you may have to redesign your scheme later.

You

Abstract mayfrom have to give hydrological information when you apply for a licence.borehole Youor can check the important hydrological information the Environment Agency may ask for.

Abstract groundwaterwell

If you want to abstract groundwater from a borehole or well you mustshould check ifwhether you need to to apply for consent to investigate a groundwater source before before you apply for a licence. ThisYou includesmay boreholes,need wells,to springs,apply quarriesfor a separate consent to construct the borehole or well and mineralcomplete workings.a test pumping of it.

YouSource willowners needand totheir docontractors thisare ifresponsible youfor wantensuring to:

• constructboreholes aor well,wells boreholeare ordesigned, otherconstructed workand (thatdecommissioned relateswithout topolluting springs,groundwater.

  Types quarriesof orlicence

  The mineraldifferent workings)types fromof whichwater resources licence you wantcan toapply abstractfor groundwater

are:
• extendfull thelicence well,– boreholefor ormost othertypes work
• installof orwater modifyabstraction anyover machinery20 orcubic apparatusmetres whicha abstractsday
• transfer additionallicence groundwater,– suchto asmove byover installing20 acubic largermetres pump

Getof helpwater witha yourday application

Beforefrom youone applysource youto can askanother thewithout Environmentintervening Agency’suse

• temporary pre-applicationlicence advice– service forto help.abstract Formore example,than so20 youcubic understand:
  • whatmetres informationof thewater Environmenta Agencyday needsover beforea theyperiod canof acceptless yourthan application28 days
  • theimpounding likelihoodlicence of– gettingto create an impoundment structure such as a licencesluice, ifweir youor applydam

  How long ana abstraction licence lasts

  Abstraction licences may have a time limit linked to a common end date. You can find this in the abstraction licensing strategy for your area.

  When the Environment Agency grants a licence for the first time, it’s likely to be for between 6 and 18 years. When they renew a licence it will normally be for another 12 years.

  They may also grant short duration licences where they think there may be issues with the licence or water availability in the longer term, or if you only need it for a short time.

  In certain circumstances, they will consider granting licences for up to 24 years.

  When they renew a licence it will normally be for another 12 years. It is the licence holder’s responsibility to apply to renew a licence before it expires.

  Long duration licence

  WhenIf you applyneed to abstract water for morea thanperiod 12of yearsup (up to 24 years)years, when you mustapply you will have to demonstrate (through a business case) that:

  • the lifetime of the infrastructure (for example, pumps, pipework, reservoirs) inseparably associated with the licence will extend over the desired duration of the licence
  • you continuously need the service or product the infrastructure supplies throughout the duration of the licence
  • you have assessed the likely environmental and economic changes that may affect the abstraction over the duration of the licence and the assessment shows no significant concerns (if an environmental impact assessment is required under planning law, this may suffice – alternatively you will need to provide an environmental assessment)
  • the infrastructure contributes to sustainable development

  Charges

  You must pay ana applicationcharge charge:

  • to apply for a new licence
  • forlicence, someor changesto (variations)change to(vary) an existing licence
  licence.

  You will also usually need to pay an annual charge (called(also called a ‘subsistence’ charge) once you hold a full abstraction licence.

  Use the guidance on the the charges for water resources licences to to work out yourwhat applicationyou’ll chargeneed andto annualpay. chargeThis (whereexplains required).when Youyou maydo havenot need to pay additionalan chargesannual duringcharge.

  Get determinationhelp ifwith theyour Environmentapplication

  If Agencyyou think you need toa carrylicence outyou extracan ask work.the ForEnvironment example,Agency’s completingpre-application conservationadvice assessments.service for help.

  Application forms

  YouYou’ll will need to fill in the relevant applicationrelevant application forms to apply for a water resources licence.licence.

  Use Ifpart E to tell us what application charge you dowill notpay fillwhen outyou want to:

  • apply for a new full or temporary licence to abstract water
  • vary (change) an existing licence
  • apply for an impounding licence
  • apply to licence an existing impoundment

  Use part A to tell us who you are when you want to:

  • apply for a new full or temporary licence to abstract water
  • vary (change) an existing licence
  • apply for an impounding licence
  • apply to licence an existing impoundment (if you’re using the formsform correctlyfor this purpose please contact the Environment Agency maybefore returnyou themfill in the form)

  Use part B to tell us what you want the water for when you:

  • apply for a new full or requesttemporary extralicence to abstract water
  • apply to vary an existing licence

  Use part C to give us additional information fromsuch you.as Thisthe mayduration delayof yourthe application.licence, water use and how it will be measured when you:

  • apply for a new full or temporary licence to abstract water
  • apply to vary an existing licence

  ToUse renewpart D to tell us about your impounding proposal when you:

  • apply for a new licence onto theimpound sameinland terms,water
  • apply useto the applicationlicence an existing impoundment – if you’re using the form for licencethis renewalspurpose, please contact the Environment Agency. Tobefore renewyou fill in the form

  You may have to give hydrological information when you apply for a licencelicence. andYou makecan check changesthe important hydrological information to itgive.

  To atrenew a licence on the same time,terms, use the application formsform for alicence new licence.renewals.

  To apply for permission for a hydropower scheme, see see new hydropower scheme: apply to build one.

  To

  After you apply

  The forEnvironment permissionsAgency forwill anmake opena loopdecision heaton:

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  • all other licence toapplications abstractwithin water4 months

  To applyIf foryour aapplication newis full,complex transfer or temporaryit licenceneeds to abstractbe water,advertised, readit may take longer. If this applies to you, the guidanceEnvironment notesAgency will tell you and completemay allask you to agree an extension of thesetime forms:for their decision.

  • Part

    Once Athey applicationhave formade a waterdecision, resourcesthe licenceEnvironment –Agency aboutwill tell you

  • Part Bif applicationthey forcan grant you a waterlicence resourcesand abstractionexplain why.

    If you’re granted a licence, you’ll receive it as a PDF by email. You can also manage your licences online.

    The licence –will aboutcontain the conditions you must follow to legally abstract or impound water.

    Compliance

    The Environment Agency will carry out site inspections to:

    • check compliance with licence conditions
    • check abstraction returns
    • Partto Cgive applicationadvice forand aguidance wateron resourcescomplying abstractionwith a licence

    They –take additionala informationrisk-based suchapproach asto theinspections durationbased ofon the licence,sensitivity of a water usesource and the potential for damage. In particular, they visit where there is a high potential for damage to the environment or where there is a poor compliance history.

    Typically, reasons for inspecting include:

    • where hands off flow condition limits or section 57 irrigation bans have been imposed – the drought plans contain more information about how youthey will measureincrease whatcompliance youchecks haveduring abstracteda drought
    • Partin Eresponse applicationto chargeincidents, forsuch wateras resourcesreports licenceof –low yourflows
    • if applicationreturns chargesuggest over-abstraction or other non-compliance

    Enforcement

    ApplicationYou formsmust to apply for a waterlicence resourceswhen you need one. If you are found to have committed an offence or breached your licence. conditions, the Environment Agency may take enforcement action.

    YouEnforcement dooptions notinclude:

    • criminal needsanctions to– completewarnings, Partformal Ecautions ifand youprosecution, arewith applyingfines forup anto environmentally£20,000
    • civil beneficialsanctions

    The abstraction,options asavailable explainedfor ineach sectionoffence 2.1.5are set out in the charges for water resources licencesoffence response options.

    IfTheir priority is to help you wantcomply with your licence. For example, if you get close to varyyour (change)annual anauthorised existingvolume, abstractionthey licencewill discuss how you maycan needadjust your usage to completesave differentwater forms.

    Applicationor formsapply forto anincrease impoundment

    your licence quantities.

    ToThey applycan foruse aenforcement licenceoptions forto aachieve newenvironmental outcomes, to stop offending, to correct damage, or existingbring impoundment,abstraction readunder regulatory control. Any response is specific to the guidanceindividual notescircumstances of each case and completeis allbased ofon thesethe forms:public interest factors set out in the enforcement and sanctions policy.

    • Part

      They Ausually applicationtake forenforcement aaction wateragainst resourcesthe licence –holder, aboutso you

    • Part Dmust applicationcheck foron aanyone wateryou resourcesallow impoundmentto licenceuse –an aboutabstraction in your impoundingname.

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    Afterall youof apply

    that water to someone else.

    The trading of water rights will usually require the parties involved to apply to the Environment Agency willfor checka yournew applicationlicence forms.and Ifto theychange areor notcancel filled(revoke) outany correctlyexisting theylicence.

    The may:Environment Agency will:

    • returnprovide theminformation about abstractions, water availability and its approach to youlicensing
    • requestadvise furtherbefore informationan fromapplication youabout whether proposed trading is likely to be licensed

    The Environment Agency willdoes usuallynot makeact as a decisionbroker on:or negotiate the trading of licences.

    • temporary

      Types licenceof applicationstrade

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    • part, willtemporary tell– youpart andof maythe asktrader’s youabstraction right is transferred to agreethe anrecipient extensionon ofa timetemporary forbasis

    Find theira decision.trading partner

    You need to find your own trading partner.

    IfContact youthe areEnvironment grantedAgency to aget licence,abstraction youlicence willdetails. receiveThey itwill asgive ayou PDFinformation byfrom email.the Youwater canresources also managepublic yourregister, licencesfor online.free.

    The licenceEnvironment willAgency’s abstraction containlicensing thestrategies give conditionsmore youinformation muston followany tolocal legallyconstraints abstracton orwater impoundrights water.trades. YouFor mustexample, complyif withtrading your water abstractionrights orwould impoundmentdamage licencethe conditions.environment.

    Contact the Environment Agency

    General enquiries

    National Customer Contact Centre
    PO Box 544
    Rotherham
    S60 1BY

    Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

    Telephone 03708 506 506

    Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312

    Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
    
    The impact of COVID-19 means you may experience some delays in responses.