Abstraction Licence
A licence granted by the Environment Agency authorising the abstraction of water from a source of supply; required under the Water Resources Act 1991 for most abstraction above 20 cubic metres a day.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Section 24 of the Water Resources Act 1991 makes it a criminal offence to abstract water from a source of supply, or to cause or permit another person to do so, except under a licence. The restriction also applies to constructing or extending a well, borehole or other work capable of abstracting groundwater, or installing machinery to increase abstraction from underground strata, without meeting the licensing conditions. Contravention is an offence triable summarily or on indictment.
In practice, the Environment Agency administers the licensing system in England. Applicants generally need a full abstraction licence for most abstraction over 20 cubic metres a day, a transfer abstraction licence to move more than 20 cubic metres a day between sources, or a temporary abstraction licence for abstraction over 20 cubic metres a day lasting less than 28 days. Not every abstraction activity needs a licence — small-scale or exempt abstractions fall outside the regime — so applicants are directed to check first. Where two abstractors compete for the same water, the Environment Agency may grant a licence to one or more applicants, or refuse all of them, and it will tell applicants if their proposal is competing with another.
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Official sources
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