Updated: Form and guidance notes WR341: Notice of an emergency abstraction
You must tell us about an emergency abstraction within 5 days of starting the abstraction.
If 5 days have already passed please contact your local Environment Agency office.
Updated: Forms and guidance notes have been updated to reflect feedback from stakeholders.
Complete the application form for a water resources licence part A to tell us about you and the type of licence you are applying for.
Complete the application form for a water resources licence part B to tell us what you want the water for.
You must provide evidence that abstraction took place during the 7 year qualifying period before the exemption was removed. Examples of evidence include:
See the document on this page called ‘New authorisations evidence guide’ for more information.
You must tell us about the quantities of water you have abstracted during the 7 year qualifying period.
If you do not measure the quantities of water you abstract, you must give us estimates and calculations to support the quantities that you have applied for.
The main ways to work out your quantities are:
For surface water abstractions that you have not metered, we recommend that you do abstraction spot flow measurements. This will give you an estimate of the volumes you are taking. You will not need to give us more evidence if you do this correctly.
If you cannot carry out spot flow measurements or meter your abstraction, please complete the document on this page called ‘New authorisations structure table and volume validation: form WR365’ to calculate your abstraction rate.
Updated: The exemptions for abstraction licence control were removed on 1 January 2018.
You need to apply for one of the following:
For a new abstraction licence for a previously exempt abstraction (also known as a new authorisation), you have 2 years from 1 January 2018 to send in your valid application.
Complete the application form for a water resources licence part A to tell us about you and the type of licence you are applying for.
Complete the application form for a water resources licence part B to tell us what you want the water for.
Application forms: new abstraction licence for a previously exempt abstraction.
You can continue to abstract water at your current rate until the Environment Agency has reached a decision on your application. If you need to abstract more water than you’ve applied for while your new authorisation licence application is being determined, you’ll need to apply for an abstraction licence.
When you apply for a licence, or want to vary an existing licence, you must pay an application fee. Fees and charges are set out in our abstraction charges scheme.
Some applications have to be advertised. If this applies to your application, you will need to pay a £100 administration fee to the Environment Agency to advertise your application in the local newspaper. You’ll also have to pay the cost of the advert.
See our notices of water resources licence applications.
Annual fees may also be payable – see managing your licence.
Fees and charges may change every April.
When the 2 year application period has closed the Environment Agency can take up to a further 3 years to determine your application. We’ll let you know whether we’ll grant you a licence and explain our decision.
The licence will contain the conditions you must follow to legally abstract water.
It’s your responsibility to apply for a licence if and when you need one before the application period closes. The Environment Agency may take enforcement action if you do not apply and continue to abstract.
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
Minicom (for the hard of hearing)
03702 422 549
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
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Over the last 12 months the Environment Agency has seen an increase in illegal waste activity across Bristol, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.
The first of these events took place on Tuesday 21 November 2017. Environment Officers visited 15 locations in the Bristol, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire area. They confirmed 6 illegal waste sites and found a number of unauthorised waste disposal activities, including waste being burnt.
Tackling waste crime is a top priority for the Environment Agency. Waste stored or disposed of without the proper environmental controls can have a huge impact on the environment, polluting watercourses, land and underground aquifers, and in some cases contributing to flooding. It is often an eyesore that attracts further dumping, while creating issues for neighbours such as smells and pests. The Environment Agency is determined to make life hard for criminals and to support legitimate businesses by disrupting the criminal element and taking tough enforcement action.
Andy Hicklin, Environment Agency Area Environment Manager for Wessex area, said:
Waste crime is a blight on communities and the environment and undermines legitimate business. Acting on reports from members of the public, days of action are just the first step in tackling waste crime. We will work with our partners in local authorities and use all of the tools at our disposal to disrupt, prevent and stop illegal waste activity.
The Environment Agency is asking members of the public to be vigilant; to contact them with information on anything suspicious. Illegal treatment and disposal of waste is a crime that blights lives and communities and damages the environment. Individuals involved in this type of illegal activity can be hostile and we would urge members of the public to avoid any direct contact with the culprits.
If you see or suspect illegal waste activities, report it anonymously to Crimestoppers or call 0800 555 111 or via the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.