Check if you need a licence to abstract water

Taking water from a surface or underground source (suchis ascalled abstraction. This includes taking water from:

• rivers
• streams
• drains
• reservoirs
• lakes
• ponds
• canals
• tidal waters and estuaries
• springs
• aquifers

Abstraction does not include taking water from:

• the sea in open coastal areas
• a river,discrete streamwater orsuch canal)as an isolated lake or frompond anthat undergroundhas no outlet to another surface water source isor calledconnection abstraction.to groundwater

If you plan to take more than 20 cubic metres (20,000 litres) a day, you are likely to need an abstraction licence from the Environment Agency.

TheIf Environmentyou Agencywant assessesto applicationsbuild toor abstractalter watera againststructure localthat can permanently or temporarily change the water availability.level or flow, check if you need a licence to impound water.

When you do not need aan abstraction licence

You do not need a licence or to register an exemptionabstraction licence for:

• abstractions of 20 cubic metres or less a day, provided your abstraction is part of a single operation – if you abstract from the same source at multiple points, the exemption only applies if the combined total of all abstractions is 20 cubic metres or less a day
• filling ships or boats with drinking or ballast water
• water used for fire fighting
• abstraction (transfers) downstream of the normal tidal limit by navigation, harbour and conservancy authorities, other than in the hour before or after low tide
• abstraction in connection with dredging operations authorised by an authority in its statutory duties in relation to waters upstream of the normal tidal limit, and any abstraction downstream of the normal tidal limit
• abstraction of water within managed wetland systems (if the main abstraction into the system is licensed) and impounding works solely for the management, operation or maintenance of water within managed wetland systems
• abstraction of water with a high saline content from underground strata in the Cheshire basin (part of an existing exemption given to the former Mersey and Weaver River Authority in 1968)
• small scale dewatering of underground strata and abstractions of surface waters to prevent interference with building or engineering works where the abstraction lasts less than 6 consecutive months, subject to restrictions set out in regulation 5 of the Water Abstraction and Impounding (Exemptions) Regulations 2017
• low risk passive dewatering, if you follow the conditions in our the passive dewatering regulatory position statement
• third-party operated dry docks that transfer water to and from a navigation authority’s water system
• emergency abstraction by port, harbour or conservancy authorities, provided they tell the Environment Agency using form WR341
• using rainwater collected from roofs and other surfaces – our see regulatory position statement on collecting rainwater explains which explains when collected rainwater is exempt and when you need a water abstraction licence
• abstractions by His Royal Highness the King and the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster in their private capacities

For more information on restrictionsexemptions see the Water Abstraction and Impounding (Exemptions) Regulations 2017.

AbstractGet fromadvice

Ask athe boreholeEnvironment orAgency’s wellenhanced pre-application service for help if:

• you need advice
• you are not sure if your proposal needs a licence

Abstract groundwater

If you want to abstract groundwater from a borehole or well you shouldmust check if you need to apply for consent to investigate a groundwater source before you apply for a licence. This includes boreholes, wells, springs, quarries and mineral workings.

You maywill need to applydo forthis if you want to:

• construct a separatewell, consentborehole or other work (that relates to constructsprings, quarries or mineral workings) from which you want to abstract groundwater

• extend the well, borehole or wellother andwork

• install completeor amodify testany pumpingmachinery ofor it.apparatus which abstracts additional groundwater, such as installing a larger pump

Apply for an abstraction licence

Find out how to apply for a water abstraction licence.

If you need help

Contact the Environment Agency.

Agency