While the main focus is on licences held by public water companies, its intention is to remove from the system some licences that are not being used. Those held by farmers and growers are included in this programme.
Agency records show that up to one-third of abstraction licences in England are never used. Revoking some of these licences may relieve pressure on some of our more stressed catchments – and will save money for the licenceholder paying charges for a resource that is not being used.
In early 2017 the agency will start contacting licence holders where records show no abstraction for the past ten years, with a view to seeking a voluntary surrender of the licence. Those wishing to retain some, or all, of their licensed right will have to provide justification to do so.
Users of small volumes of water should note that it is permitted to abstract without the need for a licence where abstractions are less than 20 cubic metres per day.
The agency is keen to pursue a voluntary approach in preference to using legal powers.
Paul Hammett, NFU water resources specialist, described water as an essential input for agricultural production and an important asset to the farm. He welcomed this ‘light touch’ approach and commented on the importance of each case being determined on its own merits.
“Unused licences are not always un-needed licences, and there are a number of sound business and agronomic reasons why allocated water may remain dormant”, he said.