Guidance and regulation

If you abstract water or plan to, you may need to apply for an abstraction licence.

• From: Environment Agency
• Updated: 3 July 2023

How to apply to the Environment Agency for a water abstraction or impounding licence.

• From: Environment Agency
• Updated: 1 June 2023

If you impound water, or plan to, you may need to apply for an impounding licence.

• From: Environment Agency
• Updated: 3 July 2023

Use the pre-application advice service to find out the likelihood of getting a licence, what restrictions it may have and what you need to send with your application.

• From: Environment Agency
• Updated: 3 July 2023

How to apply to the Environment Agency to trade water abstraction rights with another party.

• From: Environment Agency
• Updated: 20 March 2024

Guidance for non-water company abstraction licence holders affected by prolonged dry weather and drought.

• From: Environment Agency
• Updated: 7 March 2023

A framework for water supply reservoirs and flood risk management, and how to apply it.

• From: Environment Agency
• Updated: 28 March 2023

An update on measures to increase the long-term water supply in Greater Cambridge, and to address water scarcity issues in the short-term.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 6 March 2024

A joint statement between DLUHC, Defra, the Environment Agency and Greater Cambridge councils (Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire districts) on measures to address water scarcity issues in the area.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 2 others
• Updated: 6 March 2024