Policy paper

South and West Somerset abstraction licensing strategy

The Environment Agency's approach to managing new and existing abstraction and impoundment within the South and West Somerset catchment.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 19 December 2012
• Last updated: 30 July 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 30 July 2025

     Updated the abstraction licensing strategy so it contains the latest data and guidance.

  2. 30 June 2022

     2022 update of the catchment water availability and addition of information from the Brue priority catchment initiative to section 5.

  3. 1 December 2021

     Updated text in section 2.3.1. regarding groundwater resource availability.

  4. 22 October 2020

     Updated with the latest information on water resource availability.

  5. 19 December 2012

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

South and West Somerset abstraction licensing strategy

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Details

This abstraction licensing strategy is for the South and West Somerset catchment in the south-west England river basin district.

Our approach ensures that we:

• meet river basin management plan objectives for water resources activities
• avoid deterioration within the catchment

Our guidance on managing water abstraction gives the technical explanation, legal and policy requirements behind the strategy.

Please see our guidance if you need to:

• check if you need a licence to abstract water
• check if you need a licence to impound water
• apply for an abstraction or impounding licence