Notice

Thames Water Utilities Limited: application made to abstract water

Published 21 May 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thames-water-utilities-limited-npswr044128-and-npswr044129-application-made-to-abstract-water/thames-water-utilities-limited-application-made-to-abstract-water

Details of the application

Thames Water Utilities Limited has applied to the Environment Agency for two licences.

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 first application seeks to vary licence serial number 29/38/08/0194, which authorises water abstraction for public water supply from surface water through five abstraction points at National Grid References TQ 37 98 (Point A), TQ 37 97 (Point B), TQ 36 95 (Point C), TQ 37 94 (Point D), and TQ 36 93 (Point E). The proposed changes to the licence are categorised into ‘Schedule 1’ and ‘Schedule 2’, described below. Schedule 1 will occur under the site’s normal operating conditions. Schedule 2 will account for outages from a tunnel that supplies a significant proportion of the water to their system. This tunnel is subject to periodic inspections, during which it must be drained and inspected.

Schedule 1:

  • Reduce the current peak licensed daily abstraction volume at Point A from 818 megalitres to 350 megalitres, and at Point D from 682 megalitres to 580 megalitres.
  • Retain the current peak licensed daily abstraction at Point E at 1,136 megalitres.
  • Apply an aggregate peak licensed daily volume across Points A, D, and E at a maximum rate of 1,136 megalitres.
  • Remove abstraction points B and C, as these points are currently not in use.
  • Limit the licensed annual volume to 142,740 megalitres (currently 200,937 megalitres).
  • Apply an aggregate licensed annual volume with licence serial number 29/38/07/0039 (described below) at a maximum rate of 148,091 megalitres.

Schedule 2:

  • Reduce the current peak licensed daily abstraction volume at Point A from 818 megalitres to 350 megalitres, and at Point D from 682 megalitres to 580 megalitres.
  • Retain the current peak licensed daily abstraction at Point E at 1,136 megalitres.
  • Apply an aggregate peak licensed daily volume across Points A, D, and E at a maximum rate of 1,336 megalitres.
  • Remove abstraction points B and C, as these points are currently not in use.
  • Limit the licensed annual volume to 179,340 megalitres.
  • Apply an aggregate licensed annual volume with licence serial number 29/38/07/0039 (described below) at a maximum rate of 184,691 megalitres.

The second application seeks to amend the licence serial number 29/38/07/0039, which authorises water abstraction for public water supply from surface water through two abstraction points at National Grid Reference TL 33 13 (‘A’ and ‘B’). This variation aims to incorporate the proposed aggregate annual volume with the licence serial number 29/38/08/0194, as described in the above schedules.

How to view the application

Please contact us via e-mail or use the number below to arrange to see the application documents.

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/044128 and NPS/WR/044129 to the Environment Agency at the Permitting and Support Centre, Water Resources Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield S9 4WF or by email to: PSC-WaterResources@environment-agency.gov.uk

By 18 June 2025.

For advice about how to make a representation call 03708 506 506.

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