Understanding the Environment Agency’s Strategies for Sustainable Water Abstraction and Environmental Protection

Water plays a crucial role in various sectors, including drinking, agriculture, industry, wildlife conservation, and recreational activities. Sustainable water abstraction is vital to maintain river flows and groundwater levels that support ecological balance and resilience. We collaborate closely with abstractors, leveraging their local knowledge alongside our expertise, to protect the environment while addressing the needs of society, the economy, industry, and agriculture in the long term.

Increasing Challenges in Water Management

The pressures on water resources are becoming increasingly evident, with severe floods and droughts occurring more frequently. The year 2026 has already marked the driest July in nearly two centuries, recording only 5 per cent of the typical rainfall, followed by one of the hottest Augusts on record. Over the summer, rainfall reached just 64 per cent of expected levels, creating significant challenges for farmers and adversely affecting fish stocks, bird populations, and broader ecosystems. Recent studies indicate that an additional 120 per cent of normal rainfall is necessary over the coming months for all regions to recover from drought conditions.

This situation has intensified the demand for water abstraction, particularly for irrigation purposes, leading to a swift decline in agricultural reservoir levels, especially among those reliant on storage. For individuals and organisations involved in reservoir ownership, operation, or development, our new planning guides outline the necessary requirements.

Understanding Abstraction Licences

Abstraction refers to the extraction of water from sources such as rivers, lakes, or groundwater for diverse uses, including irrigation, industrial applications, recreation, and drinking water. We issue abstraction licences to safeguard both environmental integrity and the rights of existing lawful water users.

Holders of abstraction licences are permitted to extract water under the terms specified in their licence. Generally, any abstraction exceeding 20 cubic metres per day necessitates a licence, with certain exceptions for activities like firefighting. Additionally, if water is taken from multiple points of the same source, the total combined abstraction must not exceed 20 cubic metres per day to qualify for exemption.

For those without a licence, there may be opportunities to negotiate a trade or share water rights with an existing licence holder, either permanently or temporarily, contingent upon the fulfilment of all licence conditions. If the abstraction is transferred to a different point, the purchaser of the abstraction right typically must apply for their own licence or modify their existing one.

Not all activities necessitate an abstraction licence, as some are exempt. Licence holders can conveniently manage their accounts online, reviewing a summary of their licence details and historical returns.

Regulatory Measures by the Environment Agency

The Environment Agency can enforce two primary types of restrictions on abstractors during periods of water scarcity: hands-off flow conditions and Section 57 restrictions. Hands-off flow conditions on licences may limit or halt abstraction to safeguard other abstractors and the environment. Many such restrictions have been enacted in 2026 due to critically low river flows. Licence holders affected by hands-off flow conditions will receive notifications when these measures come into effect, with as much advance notice as possible.

Section 57 of the Water Resources Act 1991 allows for formal notices to be issued to holders of spray irrigation abstraction licences, aimed at protecting river flows during drought conditions across entire catchments. Licence holders can optimise their usage of the water authorised by their licence by effectively monitoring consumption, ensuring accurate water measurement devices are in place, preventing leaks, maintaining equipment, and scheduling irrigation to apply the appropriate amount of water at the right times.

Proactive Support Amidst Drought Conditions

In light of the severe drought pressures faced by farmers this year, we are permitting abstraction licence holders to begin refilling their water storage reservoirs earlier than usual, starting from 1 October. This temporary Regulatory Position Statement will be in effect until 31 October. Eligible licence holders can take action immediately without awaiting a local Environment Agency drought assessment, providing a crucial opportunity for farmers to secure water when it is most needed.

It is important to note that this is not a blanket easing of regulations. Protecting wildlife and sensitive water environments necessitates making difficult decisions; therefore, this Regulatory Position Statement does not apply to Principal Salmon Rivers or catchments already under Section 57 spray irrigation restrictions. Existing restrictions remain in place, including hands-off flow and level constraints.

We offer broader guidance for abstraction licence holders affected by prolonged dry weather and drought, detailing both short- and long-term strategies for improving water access and resilience. Additionally, we have established policies that allow farmers to take water during flood conditions, facilitating the capture of high flows while continuing to protect rivers and the wider environment.

Long-Term Water Resilience Strategies

We acknowledge that obtaining a long-duration abstraction licence has previously been challenging, hindering investments in sustainable practices, including farm storage reservoirs. Consequently, we have revised our assessment procedures for long-duration abstraction licence requests, streamlining the evidence required to support applications from individuals without existing licences. This initiative aims to facilitate long-term investment in water management.

For current abstractors, various schemes are available to enhance water resilience. For further information on these initiatives, as well as guidance on managing land and farms during dry conditions—covering aspects such as livestock care, farm reservoir management, flammable materials storage, and firebreak creation—please refer to the Defra Farming Blog.

We are also promoting the formation of Water Abstractor Groups (WAGs) to foster collaboration among farmers in understanding and planning for their future water needs. Defra has allocated funding to Regional Water Resources Groups to support these endeavours, alongside updated guidance for farmers wishing to establish WAGs.

Recently, we initiated the latest round of Local Resource Option (LRO) Screening Studies, assisting groups of farmers in identifying practical solutions for long-term water resilience. Although the application window for the 2026/27 projects has closed, further opportunities may be available on a first-come, first-served basis if funding allows. Interested parties can reach out to WRAgriculture@environment-agency.gov.uk for additional details.

Reporting Environmental Incidents

If you encounter incidents while out in the field, please report them to our hotline at 0800 80 70 60. This service is available 24 hours a day and is free of charge. Incidents that should be reported include:

• Fish in distress
• Collapsed or severely damaged riverbanks and beds
• Unusual drops in river flow
• Illegal water extraction from rivers, streams, canals, or underground sources such as wells

Further information on reporting other incidents can be found on the official government website. For any additional queries, you may contact our National Customer Contact Centre at 03708 506 506.