Water abstraction

All you need to know about taking or impounding water

The supply of water is limited, so we make sure that it’s managed and used effectively to meet the needs of people and the natural environment. We do this through a licensing system.

In this section you will find information about:

whether you need a licence
CAMS - to check how much water is available in your area
how to apply for a new licence
how to change an existing licence (includes how to extend the authorised period on your irrigation licence)
hydropower
metering abstractions
the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) programme
water rights trading
modernising the regulation of water resources
Water Act 2003 - removal of exemptions from licence control

Helpful documents:

Do you need a licence?
Check water availability via your local CAMS. Find out if you need a licence and how to apply for one. Find out how to change an existing licence.
Hydropower
Our role is to regulate and permit hydropower schemes. Find out how we can help you if you are thinking about developing a scheme.
Metering abstractions
Find out how and why you need to meter your abstraction
Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA)
Find out about the progress we have made in protecting the environment from unsustainable abstraction since the 1990s.
Water rights trading
Information on trading and the Environment Agency's and Ofwat's joint review.
Modernising the regulation of water resources
Implementation of the Water Act 2003
Water Act 2003 - removal of exemptions from licence control
Find out about progress on the final stage of the implementation of the Water Act 2003

Water abstraction

In this section you will find information about:

Helpful documents:

Do you need a licence?

Hydropower

Metering abstractions

Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA)

Water rights trading

Modernising the regulation of water resources

Water Act 2003 - removal of exemptions from licence control

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