Modernising the regulation of water resources

Implementation of the Water Act 2003

Licences that were granted decades ago don't provide the environmental protection needed today;
The droughts of the 1990s highlighted this and prompted Government to take action by reviewing the relevant legislation and making changes;
The Water Act 2003 has introduced significant changes to the system of licence control. Apart from the removal of certain exemptions, these changes have now been made;
We now have a more flexible system to regulate and manage water resources and, if someone abstracts or impounds water without a valid licence, we have added powers to take remedial action;
We are also working with existing licence holders to reduce levels of abstraction so that the amount licensed doesn't exceed the amount of water reliably available whilst leaving enough for a healthy environment.

Read the Water Act 2003 leaflet which briefly explains the changes:

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