Water licensing, authorisations and catchment management

The taking of surface or underground water from sources such as rivers, wells, boreholes and even reservoirs is regulated to make sure all users get a fair share and to minimise environmental impacts. Find out about the abstraction licensing and authorisations across the UK, including the increasing use of catchment-based approaches.

The volume threshold at which an abstraction licence or authorisation is required differs across the UK.

In England and Wales, a licence is generally required for abstractions exceeding 20 m³ per day, while different thresholds and authorisation arrangements apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Some points to consider:

• The licensed daily abstraction limit applies to each 24-hour period and is not an average over a longer period; this applies even if you draw water from multiple points from the same source
• Abstraction licences or authorisations are subject to application and, in most cases, ongoing charges
• An abstraction licence or authorisation does not guarantee a supply of water: Water availability may be restricted by environmental conditions, including prolonged dry weather and drought
• Environmental protection conditions may restrict or stop abstraction when river flows or groundwater levels fall below specified thresholds. The terminology and regulatory mechanisms vary across the UK
• Even when abstracting at the threshold level or less per day, users are legally required to manage their water responsibly, such as preventing leaks, and to prevent environmental damage

Renewal of abstraction licensing or authorisation differs across the UK.

In England and Wales, licence reviews are informed by catchment-based water resource management approaches, while Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under separate regulatory systems.

Many older abstraction licences were granted on a permanent basis and did not have expiry dates.

Most newer abstraction licences are time-limited and must be renewed periodically. Time limits became standard practice following reforms to the abstraction licensing regime, including the Water Act 2003.

In England, licence reviews are informed by Environment Agency abstraction licensing strategies for individual catchments.

Licence renewals and variations may take account of historical abstraction, environmental requirements and evidence of future water need.

Businesses should regularly review their water requirements and abstraction records to ensure future licence applications are supported by robust evidence of need.

Also, a business might gain greater operational flexibility via licence transfers, variations or consolidation, subject to regulatory approval and local environmental constraints.

Under the Water Resources Act framework, licences can be time-limited and renewed. Natural Resources Wales also applies catchment-based water resource management and sustainable abstraction policies.

Water abstraction is regulated by SEPA through the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR), which is being brought into the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations framework. It is not based on the traditional abstraction licensing system used in England and Wales.

Authorisations depend on abstraction volumes and risk categories rather than the licensing model used in England and Wales.

Abstraction and impoundment controls focus on environmental protection objectives. The abstraction licensing regime is administered by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) under the Water Abstraction and Impoundment (Licensing) Regulations.

Increasingly, catchment-based approaches are being used across the UK to help manage water resources alongside traditional regulatory controls. These approaches recognise that water resources are shared, and that local challenges and priorities can vary between catchments.

The aim is to bring together regulators, abstractors, water companies, land managers, environmental organisations and other stakeholders to develop collaborative solutions, rather than relying solely on regulation.

In catchments where water resources are under pressure, collaborative and targeted approaches can help improve the way water is shared between users while protecting the water environment.

Initiatives and partnerships are in place across the UK to explore sustainable water management and build resilience to increasing pressures such as climate change, population growth and competing demands for water.

You may wish to investigate joining or forming an organised abstractor group, water management partnership or other local catchment initiative to help coordinate water use, share information and engage with relevant regulators and stakeholders in your area.