Policy paper

Managing water abstraction

Updated 8 April 2021

Applies to England

The government, Environment Agency and water companies have written a number of plans and strategies. Together they make sure there is enough water for the future needs of both people and the environment. This document explains how they do this.

1. 25 Year Environment Plan

The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out the government’s ambition to help the natural world regain and retain good health. All plans and strategies mentioned in this document contribute to achieving the 25 Year Environment Plan.

2. River basin management plans

The River basin management plans (RBMPs) set out how the Environment Agency will make sure the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) are complied with. They provide the framework for managing water bodies and are produced for each of the 8 river basin districts in England.

The main objectives of river basin planning are to:

• prevent deterioration of ecological status of inland and coastal water or ecological potential for artificial or heavily modified water bodies
• restore water bodies to ‘good ecological status’ (GES) or ‘good ecological potential’ (GEP) for heavily modified water bodies, where necessary
• prevent deterioration of the status of groundwater bodies

The RBMPs set out a summary of the actions. This is known as the ‘programme of measures’. Flow is a supporting element to achieving GES, therefore, abstraction licensing is one of several mechanisms in place to support RBMP objectives.

We measure the pressures that affect surface waters against their natural flow conditions. Natural flow is the flow that would occur if all artificial influences (such as abstractions, discharges and flow regulation) were not taking place. We assess each surface water body and assign it one of the following ecological statuses:

• high
• good
• moderate
• poor
• bad

Water body ecological status

At high ecological status (HES) the water body must show almost undisturbed conditions with no significant artificial influences or pollution pressures and have high biological quality. They must be maintained at HES and not be allowed to deteriorate.

Targets of GES are set for water bodies unless an alternative objective can be justified through the RBMP process. The flow must be sufficient to support the river biology. We use the Environmental Flow Indicator (EFI) to make sure a water body meets GES.

Some water bodies have been designated ‘artificial’ or ‘heavily modified’ because they have been physically altered for a specific purpose, such as to supply water or generate power. They cannot be restored to GES without compromising that purpose. In this case the objective is GEP. If the water body has been designated ‘artificial’ or ‘heavily modified’ for water resource purposes, we assess the status on the presence or absence of measures that reduce the effects. Heavily modified water bodies (HMWB) that have been designated for non-water resources purposes must comply with the EFI.

A groundwater body can be classed as either good or poor based on its chemical status and groundwater abstraction pressures. Abstraction pressures are assessed based on current groundwater abstraction impacts on each groundwater body.

3. Water abstraction plan

The Water abstraction plan 2017 sets out how water abstraction management will reform over the coming years. It states how this will protect the environment and improve access to water in line with the RBMPs. The plan has 3 main parts to:

• address unsustainable abstraction
• develop a stronger catchment focus
• modernise regulation

3.1 Addressing unsustainable abstraction

An abstraction licence is unsustainable if:

• the RBMP actions cannot be achieved because:
  • it contributes to a reason for not achieving the water body flow objective
  • it has caused or contributed to deterioration against the current RBMP baseline
  • increasing abstraction within the limits of the licence risks deterioration
• it is affecting or could affect a site designated under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
• it is affecting or could affect a site designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Sites of Special Scientific Interest)
• it could compromise Biodiversity 2020 objectives

The measures available to resolve environmental issues caused by abstraction are:

• reduce the volume of water authorised by abstraction licences
• redistribute abstraction among existing sources within the catchment
• introduce or change flow or level constraints
• non-licence changes, such as:
  • river restoration
  • river bed sealing
  • making barriers passable to migratory fish
  • changes to wetland management
  • more efficient use of water

We can change licences by:

• asking licence holders to voluntarily cancel (revoke) or vary their licences under Section 51 Water Resources Act 1991
• using our powers under Section 52 Water Resources Act 1991 to modify or cancel a licence
• using the Water industry national environment programme for water company abstractions
• reviewing time-limited licences through the environmental sustainability test at renewal
• bringing previously exempt abstraction into regulation through conditions included on the grant of a transitional licence, or at a later date when a transitional licence expires and an abstractor applies for a replacement licence

Water body objectives and measures will determine the extent of any licence changes required. We seek voluntary solutions with licence holders or other non-licence changes to deal with unsustainable, permanent licences.

We are committed to address ‘serious damage’ actual and ‘at risk’ water bodies under the abstraction plan.

We must safeguard designated sites. Changes to licences to protect sites designated under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 need to be sufficient to enable them to conclude ‘no adverse effect’ on the integrity of the site.

The timescales for action must align with those for achieving water body objectives in the RBMP. It may not always be possible to take action on all unsustainable licences in a catchment at the same time because, for example:

• the timing of the catchment common end dates
• overriding legal obligations such as the Habitats Regulations or the need to prevent deterioration
• long-term investment is required to safeguard the security of essential public water supplies

Regulating previously exempt abstractions

Historical exempt abstractions potentially allowed unlimited amounts of water to be taken, irrespective of availability or the impact on the environment. The Water Resources (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017 removed the majority of previous exemptions from licensing control from 1 January 2018. See the Water management: abstract or impound water guidance for more information.

3.2 Developing a stronger catchment focus

We work locally with stakeholders and embed water resources into the Catchment Based Approach to support making abstraction sustainable and improving access to water where needed.

Empowering local groups will lead to innovation and consensus-based decisions that can be quicker than taking a regulatory approach and deliver wider benefits for people and the environment. Different catchments have very different characteristics and needs, so solutions have to be tailored to the catchment issues. We are trialling the best way to carry out this approach through the priority catchment programme.

There is a 5 stage approach to the project:

1. Engage to understand local issues and challenges.
2. Co-develop voluntary solutions to environmental pressures or shortage of supply.
3. Agree and capture actions in abstraction licence strategies.
4. Carry out actions including regulatory changes where necessary.
5. Evaluate the approach and apply lessons learnt.

The programme started with 4 priority catchments in 2018 which all had insufficient water available to meet the needs of abstractors:

• Idle and Torne in East Midlands
• South Forty Foot in Lincolnshire
• Cam and Ely Ouse in East Anglia
• East Suffolk in East Anglia

Further catchments were added in 2019:

• Wye in Herefordshire
• Brue in Somerset
• Arun and Western streams in Sussex
• Till and Tweed in Northumbria
• Alt and Crossens in Lancashire
• Otter in Devon

In each catchment, all main abstraction sectors, local government and environmental non-government organisations in the local communities are working together. They are trialling new approaches to resolve environmental issues and improve access to water, now and in the future. Some examples include:

• better use of higher flows for abstraction
• streamlining the process for licence trading
• holding water back on land to help top up groundwater storage for later abstraction (artificial recharge schemes)
• improving how abstraction sectors share surface water resources, for example by better communication
• farmers and other abstractors combining (aggregating) their abstractions and managing resource sharing within the limits authorised by the us
• using digital technology to more quickly notify abstractors of flow restrictions

In December 2020 we used the outputs from trials, projects and case studies to publish the first 4 priority catchment Abstraction licensing strategies. We will:

• use the same approach to update the next 6 priority catchment Abstraction licensing strategies by December 2021, and all remaining catchments by 2027
• learn from this work and look to expand these to other catchments
• work towards getting general agreement for change, monitor progress and, if required, review the approach

The Abstraction (Water Resources) working group supports this work. It is one of several Catchment Based Approach working groups that underpin partners working together for co-ordinated management of river catchments.

Our National framework sets out how the regional groups should improve the links between abstraction management locally and strategic planning regionally through the catchment based approach.

3.3 Modernising regulation

Water resource licensing is modernising through a number of changes.

Online water resources licence management

We invest in digital services so that:

• customers can apply for and manage their water abstraction and impoundment licences online
• future innovation in water resources management can take place

We use an ‘agile’ approach to develop digital services. We:

• focus on what a user needs’ and their feedback
• release products early (and in stages) so they can be used, tested and improved

This is the standard for all digital projects within UK government set out by Government Digital Services. It encourages the early release of benefits and promotes continuous improvement.

The online service hosted on GOV.UK includes features which improve:

• access to water
• protection of the environment
• drought management

The service provides the following functionality:

Registration

Licence holders can register to access their licence(s) quickly and securely on GOV.UK.

View licences

Once registered, licence holders can:

• view their portfolio of licences online
• give each licence a reference name, so they do not have to remember a series of numbers
• view an audit trail of any communications sent to their account, specific to any of their licences

The licence information is only visible to themselves.

Manage returns

Licence holders can:

• submit their abstraction returns online through the service
• view past returns for each licence and see for each year if the returns have been completed, are due or are overdue

Email reminders are sent when returns are due.

Add licences or give access

Licence holders can:

• add any additional abstraction licences they hold to their account at any time
• grant access to another user, for them to view and, or manage their licence(s) on their behalf
• set permissions for the new user to submit the returns

The licence holder can remove additional users at any point.

Receive notifications

We can use the service to notify abstractors whether hands-off flow (or level) conditions are active (or likely to be active). This quickly allows us to better protect the environment when flows and levels are low. This also improves access to water when flows and levels recover.

We will deliver further improvements to meet the needs of customers and provide a simple and modern service for abstractors. These will allow licence holders to:

• apply for new licences or variations online
• view and manage impoundment licences
• view near real time information on river flows and levels (already available in some priority catchments)
• manage contact information, edit contact and returns address but also select preferred method of communications (for example letter, email or possibly text)
• more effectively make trades with other licence holders

The long term aim is to give users access to up-to-date information on water availability. This will:

• help manage abstraction more effectively
• provide better protection at low flows
• allow better access to high flows

Environmental Permitting Regulations

An important part of the Water abstraction plan 2017 is the modernisation of abstraction regulation. The plan sets out how government will use powers in the Water Act 2014 to move the regulation of water abstraction and impoundment into the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) regime. This will bring it in line with our other permitting regimes and lead to a more modern and consistent regulatory framework.

See the consultation website for more about moving abstraction and impounding licensing into EPR.

4. Catchment abstraction management system (CAMS)

We use the CAMS process to translate the RBMPs and the Water abstraction plan into the licensing policy. CAMS is a standard approach to assess the amount of water available for further abstraction licensing, taking into account what the environment needs.

CAMS supports river basin planning. It:

• provides an indication of whether there are sufficient water resources to support a healthy ecology and sustainable abstraction
• provides information on how much water is available for future licensing whilst protecting the environment
• helps to identify water bodies that are failing, or are at risk of failing to meet GES by 2027 due to water resource pressure

CAMS is divided into 3 stages that we continually review and update:

• Resource assessment and management (RAM)
• interpreting the results of RAM to achieve sustainable abstraction
• Abstraction licensing strategy (ALS)

4.1 Resource assessment and management (RAM)

The water resource availability is calculated using RAM at selected assessment points across the river network in England. This:

1. Estimates natural flows using information on river flows, groundwater levels and abstractions and discharges.
2. Represents ecological requirements by selecting the appropriate ecological sensitivity using local ecological information - producing the EFI.
3. Produces scenario flows using abstraction and discharge information - not all abstractors use the full quantity of water they have on their licence, so the scenario flows in recent years may be significantly different compared to abstractors taking their full licensed quantities.
4. Assigns the water resource availability status colour, the colours are used to indicate the amount of water available for additional abstraction, these are determined by comparing the scenario flows with the EFI.

RAM also calculates the ‘hands off flow (HoF)’ that would be applied to any new water resource licence issued within the catchment. As more of the available water is allocated to abstraction, licences are issued with increasingly restrictive HoF conditions to make sure sufficient water continues to be available for the environment.

We give all new licences granted within a RAM ledger catchment a time limit common end date, these dates are listed in section 9: CAMS common end dates.

RAM is updated as new information becomes available. The data is routinely uploaded to our Water Resources Geographical Information System which calculates compliance with ecological flow requirements at water body outflow points.

Environmental flow indicator (EFI)

Having the right flow in our water bodies is essential to supporting a healthy ecology. The UK Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG) is responsible for developing environmental standards and conditions for achieving WFD requirements for rivers and lakes. The standards vary by river type and flow, with stricter standards at lower flows and for water body types considered more sensitive to abstraction. They identify percentage change from natural flow for differing river ‘types’ and at different flows.

We translate the UKTAG river flow standards into the EFI for use in England as part of RAM. This adaptation was necessary for use within the existing abstraction regulatory regime. The EFI is set at a level believed to support GES.

Groundwater

Groundwater assessment areas, or units, tend to be divided into larger areas than surface water. We use 4 tests to assess each groundwater unit:

1. Groundwater balance - a numerical quantification based on fully licensed abstraction, recent actual abstraction and recharge.
2. Check of the water resource availability of any rivers fed by the groundwater unit.
3. Assessment of any saline or other intrusions occurring within the unit because of groundwater abstraction.
4. Check of the quality of any wetlands fed by the groundwater unit.

We assign groundwater units a:

• ‘groundwater quantitative status’ - refers to recent actual abstraction rates
• ‘groundwater risk’ - refers to a fully licensed abstraction scenario

The groundwater risk or status is classed as either ‘good’ or ‘poor’, and is given a low or high confidence in the classification.

4.2 Interpreting the results of RAM to achieve sustainable abstraction

We do not allow abstraction that would bring flows below the EFI or that would contribute to deterioration of any of the 4 groundwater tests. The only exception is if the abstraction licence applicant can prove there will be no deterioration or impact on ecological status. The ALS states the HoF that we will apply to new abstraction licences to make sure flows remain compliant with the EFI.

We have screened all river water bodies (except those in flow regulated rivers) to show where existing abstraction impacts cause flows to fall below EFIs when the flow is low.

WFD over licensed shown as ‘restricted water available for licensing’ in ALS

These water bodies have fully licensed abstraction modelled flows that fall below the EFI. If all licensed water is abstracted, there will not be enough water left for the needs of the environment.

In these catchments there is a risk that environmental damage and depletion of river flows and aquifers may occur. We want to reduce the risk of environmental damage. We are therefore contacting licence holders with licences they have not used or are underusing and inviting them to voluntarily reduce or cancel their abstraction licences.

Actual abstraction will not be reduced or cancelled in these catchments.

WFD non-compliant water bodies

WFD non-compliance is divided into 3 categories depending on the confidence that flows are not meeting the needs of the environment:

• WFD band 1: low confidence that flows are not supporting GES
• WFD band 2: medium confidence that flows are not supporting GES
• WFD band 3: high confidence that flows are not supporting GES

WFD band 3 non-compliance shows potential serious damage as referenced in Section 27 Water Act 2003. To class a surface water body as suffering actual serious damage it needs to meet all 3 of the following tests:

• band 3 non-compliant for flow
• overall WFD water body status of less than GES
• confirmed reason for not achieving good flow

The 3 definitions of groundwater body serious damage are:

• deterioration in combined WFD groundwater body status from good to poor during RBMP cycle 1
• deterioration in combined WFD groundwater body status from poor (low confidence) to poor (high confidence) during RBMP cycle 1
• WFD Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems assessed as poor

The ALS shows how we will use our powers to address unsustainable abstraction in these catchments.

Designated sites

Some areas of the country require additional protection, including those that have been designated as a protected area.

The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (Habitats Regulations) provide a very high level of protection to 2 types of designated sites due to their special environment. These are:

• Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), which contribute to biodiversity by maintaining and restoring habitats and species
• Special Protection Area (SPA), which provides protection to birds and their nests, eggs and habitats

Government policy treats Ramsar sites (internationally important wetland sites) in the same way as SACs and SPAs. Ramsars, SACs and SPAs are referred to collectively as European sites.

We must consider if a plan, project or permission will have a likely significant effect in these areas.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) also carry a high level of environmental importance and have been designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (W&CA).

Conservation objectives are the objectives for European sites and SSSI protected sites to maintain at, or restore to, favourable conservation status or condition. These are set by Natural England. The process for setting targets is described through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee approved ‘Common Standards Monitoring Guidance’. Natural England use these targets to assess the condition of Natura 2000 and SSSI designated sites and considered them a requirement for achieving the conservation objectives.

We are required to consult with Natural England when determining an abstraction or impounding licence within a site designated under either the Habitat’s Regulations or W&CA Act. We may issue licences in these areas with stricter conditions or even refuse them to make sure these areas protected. For more information see types of protected sites and areas.

The ALS outlines the site specific flow standards developed for each designated site.

The ALS shows how we use our powers in designated sites that are being affected by unsustainable abstraction.

4.3 Abstraction licensing strategies (ALS)

You can view the ALS for each catchment on GOV.UK. It sets out how we will manage abstraction. Each ALS provides:

• a consistent and structured approach to local water resource management giving information on water resource availability (where and when) based on environmental needs
• a strategy which makes sure all relevant water body objectives are met, outlining the local actions that contribute to achieving water body objectives
• information for licensing decisions:
  • conditions and measures that will apply to new water resources activities to make sure they will not cause or contribute to failure or deterioration in ecological status
  • policy on unused and underused licences to make sure water bodies are not deteriorated
  • strategy for managing the renewal of time-limited licences
  • management of non time-limited licences
  • management of previously exempt abstractions (known as new authorisations)
  • management of ‘discharge rich’ catchments
• actions to restore sustainable abstraction within designated sites or where water bodies are failing the EFI by:
  • identifying management solutions which are already in place
  • outlining the site specific flow targets developed for each designated site
• clearly identify where serious damage has been confirmed and explain actions to restore sustainable abstraction within serious damage catchments or those that are at risk of serious damage

We also consider local impacts of the proposed abstraction or impoundment and the protected rights of existing water users.

5. National framework

Meeting our future water needs: a national framework for water resources explores England’s long-term water needs across all sectors to 2050 and beyond.

The framework sets out the:

• ambition for restoring, protecting and improving the environment
• scale of action needed to make sure water supplies are resilient in the future

This marks a shift to strategic multi-sector regional planning by setting out the principles, expectations and challenges for 5 regional water resource groups.

The regional groups bring together the water companies that operate in each of England’s regions with main water users and other stakeholders.

Each group is developing a regional plan. The plan will inform individual water company water resource management plans (WRMPs) and how new solutions are delivered through their 5-yearly business plans. Each regional plan will need to:

• address the needs of the environment to deliver long-term improvements
• increase resilience to drought by reducing the need for rota cuts and standpipes to no more than once every 500 years on average
• identify all the options needed to meet the water needs of the region and the nation, delivering best value and adapting to different futures by:
  • reducing demand
  • reducing leakage
  • developing new supplies
  • moving water to where it is needed
• set out how the supply of water needs managing across the region

6. Environment Agency drought plans

We produce drought plans which set out how to plan for, and manage a drought. They range from high-level plans, coordinating the drought management activities throughout England, to local level plans outlining specific operational activities. We review the plans annually and update them when appropriate.

7. Water industry national environment programme

The Water industry national environment programme (WINEP) is a programme of investigations and actions for environmental improvement schemes. It makes sure water companies meet environmental and legal obligations and national targets. We provide a list of investigations and solutions for the WINEP after consultation with the water industry and a number of other organisations.

The WINEP forms part of the final asset management plan (AMP) that determines the overall level of investment that water companies need to make over a 5 year period. It is based on the new price set by the Water Services Regulation Authority (known as Ofwat). Companies incorporate these requirements into their proposed business plans, which inform Ofwat’s decision on price limits.

8. Water company plans

Water companies produce business plans, WRMPs and drought plans. The first relates to how they manage their business and the level of customers’ bills and the second and third to how they manage water.

8.1 Water resources business plans

Water companies submit business plans to Ofwat, who regulate the price customers pay for the supply of water and treating waste water. Ofwat reviews water company pricing in a 5-yearly process known as the ‘periodic review’.

Water companies prepare their final business plans using the advice and comments from Ofwat, the Environment Agency, other organisations and the public. We use the consultation period to check that these plans are consistent with WRMPs.

8.2 WRMPs

Water companies must prepare and publish WRMPs to say how they are going to manage water supply and demand over the next 25 years and comply with their environmental obligations. This is to meet the Water Industry Act 1991, Water Resources Management Plans Regulations 2007 and the Water Resources Management Plan Direction 2017.

WRMPs need to show how a water company will manage water resources efficiently and sustainably. They should deliver what a customer needs, while reflecting the value that society places on the environment. The plans show how the companies plan to provide enough water to their customers over the next 25 years.

8.3 Water company drought plans

Water companies must prepare these plans to show the actions they will take to manage water supplies during drought periods. They prepare them following the requirements of the Water Industry Action 1991, Drought Plan Regulations 2005, the Drought Plan Direction 2016 and the Environment Agency’s guidance. They consult on them and then submit them to government.

9. CAMS common end dates

9.1 East Anglia

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Cam and Ely Ouse	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
Old Bedford including Middle Level	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
North West Norfolk	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Upper Ouse and Bedford Ouse	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
North Norfolk	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
East Suffolk	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Essex	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Broadland Rivers	31 March 2030	31 March 2042

9.2 Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Steeping, Great Eau and Long Eau	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Witham	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Holbeach Marsh (Welland)	See Welland or Nene	See Welland or Nene
Welland	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Nene	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Grimsby, Ancholme and Louth	31 March 2030	31 March 2042

9.3 West Midlands

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Dove	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Warwickshire Avon	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Staffordshire Trent Valley	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
Tame, Anker and Mease	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Severn Corridor (including Severn uplands)	31 March 2022	31 March 2034
Teme	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Worcestershire Middle Severn	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Severn Vale	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
Shropshire Middle Severn	31 March 2027	31 March 2039

9.4 East Midlands

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Derbyshire Derwent	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Soar	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Idle and Torne	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Lower Trent and Erewash	31 March 2027	31 March 2039

9.5 North East

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Northumberland Rivers	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Tyne	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Wear	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Tees	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
Till	31 March 2027	31 March 2039

9.6 Yorkshire

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Esk	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Derwent	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Swale, Ure, Nidd and Upper Ouse	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Wharfe and Lower Ouse	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Don and Rother	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Hull and East Riding	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Aire and Calder	31 March 2027	31 March 2039

9.7 Cumbria and Lancashire

Abstraction licensing strategy	RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Ribble, Douglass and Crossens	Ribble, Douglass and Crossens	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Lune & Wyre	Lune	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Lune & Wyre	Wyre	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
South Cumbria	South Cumbria	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Eden and Esk	Eden and Esk	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Derwent and West Cumbria	Derwent and West Cumbria	31 March 2026	31 March 2038

9.8 Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire

Abstraction licensing strategy	RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Upper Mersey	Tame Goyt and Etherow	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Upper Mersey	Mersey Bollin	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Weaver and Dane	Weaver and Dane	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Northern Manchester	Northern Manchester	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
Lower Mersey and Alt	Lower Mersey	31 March 2028	31 March 2040

9.9 Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

Abstraction licensing strategy	RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Tamar WFD management area	Tamar	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
East Devon WFD management area	Exe	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
East Devon WFD management area	Otter, Sid, Axe and Lim	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
North Cornwall, Seaton and Fowey WFD management area	North Cornwall	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
North Cornwall, Seaton and Fowey WFD management area	Seaton, Looe and Fowey	31 March 2028	31 March 2041
North Devon WFD management area	Taw and North Devon Streams	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
North Devon WFD management area	Torridge and Hartland Streams	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
South Devon WFD management area	South Devon	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
West Cornwall and Fal WFD management area	West Cornwall	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
West Cornwall and Fal WFD management area	Fal and St Austell	31 March 2030	31 March 2042

9.10 Wessex

Abstraction licensing strategy	RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
South and West Somerset WFD management area	Tone	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
South and West Somerset WFD management area	Parrett	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
South and West Somerset WFD management area	Brue	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
South and West Somerset WFD management area	West Somerset Streams	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Bristol Avon and North Somerset WFD management area	Bristol Avon	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Bristol Avon and North Somerset WFD management area	Axe and North Somerset Streams	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Bristol Avon and North Somerset WFD management area	Little Avon	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
Dorset WFD management area	Dorset Stour	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Dorset WFD management area	Frome, Piddle, Poole Harbour and Purbeck	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Dorset WFD management area	West Dorset Streams	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Hampshire Avon WFD management area	Hampshire Avon	31 March 2025	31 March 2037

9.11 Thames

Abstraction licensing strategy	RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Thames Corridor	Thames	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Wey	Wey	31 March 2027	31 March 2039
Loddon	Loddon	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Kennet and Vale of White Horse	Kennet	31 March 2023	31 March 2035
Kennet and Vale of White Horse	Vale of White Horse	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Cherwell, Thame and Wye	Cherwell, Thame and Wye	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Cherwell, Thame and Wye	Cherwell	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Cherwell, Thame and Wye	Thame and South Chilterns	31 March 2026	31 March 2038
Cotswolds	Cotswolds	31 March 2027	31 March 2039

9.12 Kent, South London and East Sussex

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Stour	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
North Kent and Swale	31 March 2023	31 March 2029
Mole	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
London	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Medway	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Rother	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
Darent and Cray	31 March 2020	31 March 2026
Cuckmere and Pevensey	31 March 2026	31 March 2038

9.13 Hertfordshire and North London

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
Upper Lee	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Roding, Beam, Ingrebourne and Mardyke	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Colne	31 March 2026	31 March 2038

9.14 Solent and South Downs

Abstraction licensing strategy and RAM ledger	Current common end date	Next common end date
East Hampshire	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Arun Western Streams	31 March 2028	31 March 2040
Isle of Wight	31 March 2029	31 March 2041
Adur and Ouse	31 March 2030	31 March 2042
Test and Itchen	31 March 2025	31 March 2037
New Forest	31 March 2026	31 March 2038