Find out if you need a water abstraction or impoundment licence
You will need an abstraction licence if you take water from an inland water or from groundwater, unless it is exempt from licensing.
Inland waters can include:
- a river or stream
- a reservoir, lake or pond
- a canal
- a spring
- a dock, channel, creek, bay, estuary or arm of the sea
You must apply for a licence if you need one. If you take water without a licence, when one is needed, you are committing an offence and we may take enforcement action against you.
Types of abstraction licence
There are three types of abstraction licence:
- a full abstraction licence – to abstract water over a period of 28 days or more
- a transfer licence – to take water from one source of supply to another source of supply without an intervening use, over a period of 28 days or more
- a temporary abstraction licence – for a one-off abstraction of water over a period of less than 28 days
Abstractions which do not need a licence
You do not need an abstraction licence for:
- abstractions of 20 cubic metres a day or less
- abstraction by a vessel for use on that or another vessel
- abstraction for fire-fighting purposes, or for training/practice or testing of apparatus used in fire- fighting
- some navigation, harbour or conservancy authority abstractions
- abstractions within managed wetland systems
- draining water (dewatering) to prevent interference with building or engineering works, where the abstraction lasts for less than 6 consecutive months, subject to restrictions
- third-party operated dry docks transferring water to and from a navigation authority’s water system
- port, harbour or conservancy authority emergency abstractions
If you are not sure if you need a licence or which type you need, you can ask for pre-application advice.
Find out more about our pre-application advice service
Additional abstractions for other purposes
If you are also abstracting, or propose to abstract, water from the same source of supply (river/stream/borehole) for more than one purpose i.e. private water supply and hydropower, you need to provide details of this with your application. If you are a deregulated water user (abstractions of less than 20 cubic metres per day), you need to include these quantities in your application and a charge will be incurred on that use.
Do you need a licence if you obstruct or impede (impound) water?
Impoundments can include:
- dams
- weirs
- fish passes
- hydropower turbines
- sluices
- penstocks
- culverts
- lock gates
- retaining walls, flumes
- reservoir embankments
- temporary diversions during construction work
You will need an impoundment licence if you construct, alter, repair or remove an impoundment structure.
You do not need an impoundment licence for the following exempt activities:
- works constructed without a licence before 1 April 2006, except where we serve a notice requiring you to apply for a licence
- where a navigation, harbour or conservancy authority constructs or alters an impoundment, or obstructs or impedes flow while carrying out its duties
- where a drought order or drought permit authorises it
- where the persons doing the work are Crown exempt
- where structures and works are authorised by legislation (for example an act of Parliament)
- where we serve a notice requiring impoundment only for the purpose of screening or passage for eels
- works constructed by us or our behalf while carrying out our responsibilities within internal drainage districts
- works needed in an emergency
You must apply for a licence if you need one. If you obstruct or impede water without a licence, when one is needed, you are committing an offence and we may take enforcement action against you.
What to do before applying
Find out what you should do before applying for a licence.
If you are not sure if you need a licence or which type you need, you can ask for pre-application advice.