Guide
Apply for a water abstraction licence
How to apply for a licence to abstract water from rivers, streams, boreholes, or other sources. Covers the 20 cubic metres per day threshold, licence types, pre-application enquiries, Environmental Impact Assessment, annual charges, and devolved nation requirements.
If your business takes water from a river, stream, borehole, or other natural source, you may need a water abstraction licence from the Environment Agency. This applies to abstracting more than 20 cubic metres (approximately 4,400 gallons) per day from any single source of supply. If you abstract from the same source at multiple points, the combined total must stay within 20 cubic metres per day to remain exempt.
Abstracting water without a licence is a criminal offence under the Water Resources Act 1991. The Environment Agency can impose unlimited fines, enforcement undertakings, or variable monetary penalties. Starting the application process early is essential because determination can take several months.
Before you apply
The Environment Agency strongly recommends a pre-application enquiry before submitting a formal application. This is a chargeable service but can save time and money by identifying issues early. The pre-application process will tell you whether water is likely to be available in your catchment, what conditions may be attached, and whether your proposal might require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Environmental Impact Assessment
Some abstraction proposals require screening under the Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003. The Environment Agency will tell you at the pre-application stage whether an EIA is needed. If required, you must submit an environmental statement with your application, which adds to both cost and processing time.
What you will need
Before starting your application, gather the following:
- a map showing the proposed abstraction point (1:10,000 or 1:25,000 scale)
- the maximum daily, annual, and hourly quantities you wish to abstract
- the purpose of the abstraction (for example, irrigation, industrial process, cooling)
- evidence of your right of access to the abstraction point (you must own or have legal access to the land)
- details of any existing abstraction licences you hold
- a water management plan (if the Environment Agency requests one)
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1. Check whether you need a licence
Use the GOV.UK guidance to confirm your abstraction requires a licence. If you abstract 20 cubic metres or less per day from a single source, you are exempt. Some other exemptions apply for land drainage, navigation, and water supply emergencies.
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2. Request pre-application advice
Contact the Environment Agency for a pre-application enquiry. This is chargeable but tells you whether water is available in your catchment and flags potential issues before you invest in a full application.
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3. Choose the correct licence type
Apply for a full licence if abstracting for 28 days or more, a transfer licence if moving water between sources without intervening use, or a temporary licence if abstracting for less than 28 days.
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4. Complete and submit the application forms
Download the application forms from GOV.UK. Complete all required parts, attach your maps, supporting evidence, and any environmental statement. Submit to the Environment Agency with your application fee.
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5. Respond to any requests during determination
The Environment Agency may request additional information, ask you to advertise the application in local newspapers, or require further environmental assessment. Additional charges may apply for extra work during determination.
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6. Receive your licence and note conditions
If granted, your licence will specify maximum quantities, time limits, and conditions such as monitoring requirements. You must submit annual abstraction returns and pay ongoing subsistence charges.
Ongoing obligations
Once you hold an abstraction licence, you must:
- abstract only within the quantities and conditions specified on your licence
- submit annual abstraction returns to the Environment Agency, recording how much water you actually abstracted
- pay annual subsistence charges, calculated using a Standard Unit Charge multiplied by volume, source type, season, and loss factors
- notify the Environment Agency of any changes to your operations that might affect the licence
- apply to renew your licence at least 3 months before it expires (most full licences are granted for 6 to 18 years)
If you no longer need to abstract water, you should apply to revoke your licence to stop annual charges accruing.
Common situations
Agricultural irrigation
Many farms need abstraction licences for spray irrigation. Water availability may be restricted during dry periods through hands-off flow conditions, which require you to stop abstracting when river levels fall below a specified threshold.
Construction dewatering
Abstracting groundwater for dewatering excavations requires a licence if you remove more than 20 cubic metres per day. You may also need a water discharge permit if the pumped water is returned to a watercourse.
Hydropower
Hydropower schemes require a transfer licence for the abstraction. You will also need a flood risk activity permit for any structures on or near the watercourse.
What to do next
After securing your abstraction licence, check whether you also need:
- a water discharge permit if you are returning abstracted water to the environment after use
- a flood risk activity permit if your abstraction involves structures on or near a main river
- an impounding licence if you are constructing a dam, weir, or similar structure
- planning permission for any associated infrastructure such as pump houses or pipelines