Notice

Affinity Water Limited (NPS/WR/027731): application made to abstract water

Updated 27 January 2020

This notice was withdrawn on

The consultation period for this application has ended. You can view current licences on the Public Registers.

Applies to England

Details of the application

Affinity Water Limited has applied to the Environment Agency to vary a licence.

The Environment Agency is giving notice of this application, in accordance with Section 37 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and Regulation 6 of the Water Resources (Abstraction and Impounding) Regulations 2006.

The application is to vary existing licence serial number 28/39/28/0480, which authorises the abstraction of groundwater from sites near Batchworth, West Hyde and Blackford at National Grid References TQ 06 93, TQ 04 91 and TQ 05 88 respectively. The variation applied for comprises of three components, outlined below:

  • An extension to the period that they may abstract 32,120,000 cubic metres per year from 31 March 2020 to 31 March 2025. Thereafter, the annual abstraction rate will reduce to 29,200,000 cubic metres per year. This limit applies to the combined abstraction at the three sites listed above and six other sites which are not affected by this proposal.
  • An increase in the peak daily abstraction rate at the Batchworth site from 20,457 cubic metre per day to 28,000 cubic metres per day, effective for 30 months. The licensed annual volume of water will not increase as a result of this.
  • An increase in the peak daily abstraction rate at the West Hyde site from 20,457 cubic metres per day to 22,457 cubic metres per day, effective for 30 months. The licensed annual volume of water will not increase as a result of this.

The increase in peak daily abstraction rates will only commence in the event that the Blackford site, which allows abstraction at a rate of 20,000 cubic metres per day, and/or other sites are affected by turbidity arising from construction of HS2 and are experiencing full or partial outage. All water abstracted is for the purpose of public water supply and the variation will contribute to maintaining resilience of supply during episodes of peak demand. This proposal is not to enable Affinity Water Limited to supply High Speed Two (HS2) Limited with construction water.

How to view the application

You can view the application and supporting documents, during normal office hours, at the Environment Agency (telephone a minimum of 24 hours in advance for appointment 03708 506 506):

Alchemy
Bessemer Road
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
AL7 1HE

or Affinity Water Limited (telephone a minimum of 24 hours in advance for appointment 01707 268 111):

Tamblin Way,
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL10 9EZ

You can view a summary of the application, during normal office hours, on the Public Register at:

Alchemy
Bessemer Road
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
AL7 1HE

How to comment on the application

Send any representation about this application in writing, quoting the name of the applicant and reference number NPS/WR/027731, to the Environment Agency at:

Permitting and Support Centre
Water Resources Team
Quadrant 2
99 Parkway Avenue
Sheffield
S9 4WF

Online at: view and comment on the application using Citizen Space

Or by email to: psc-waterresources@environment-agency.gov.uk

By 14 February 2020.