Information for licence holders
Why are we doing the project?
The Environment Agency is England’s environmental regulator, and it is our duty to ensure that water supplies are sustainable for the future. The extreme weather, including drought, experienced over the last few years is an indication of the weather we can expect to happen more frequently in the future. Less groundwater recharge and larger seasonal variations in river flow, as well as changes to when and how extended dry periods occur, will affect how much water can be abstracted from groundwater and rivers. Climate change and population growth mean that if we do not act now, water demand from people, industry and agriculture will exceed water availability in many parts of the country, including East Anglia.
We also have a legal duty under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017(External link) to protect designated(External link) sites. The Broads Special Area of Conservation (SAC)(External link) is a protected waterway system of connected rivers and nutrient lakes within areas of fen and drained marshland. Hosting 28 designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), it supports internationally protected wildlife and attracts over 8 million recreational visitors per year.
We have already investigated the impact of water abstraction on four SSSIs within the Ant Valley, which is a part of The Broads SAC. Following a judicial review in 2022, we were directed to extend our investigation to include an additional 24 SSSIs in The Broads SAC. We produced The Broads SAC Sustainable Abstraction Plan to explain how we would do this. We are now investigating all water abstraction licences within the Bure, Thurne, Yare, Waveney, Tud and part of the Wensum catchments.
What can I do to prepare?
We recommend you research ways in which you can reduce your water consumption and conducting a ‘water audit’ can be an effective way to do this. An audit will determine your current water efficiency and highlight water saving opportunities such as adapting business practices or investing in innovative water saving devices.
Once you have reduced your water consumption, you may wish to consider alternative water supplies and water storage solutions. You could look to invest in a storage reservoir(External link) or consider collecting and storing rainwater, known as rainwater harvesting(External link).
You may wish to work with other abstractors in your area to find a shared solution.
How will you determine if my licence is sustainable?
The Environment Agency has worked with Natural England to determine river, groundwater and surface water flow objectives which will protect and restore the special habitats and species on the SSSIs.
We model all existing abstraction licences to understand how they are impacting on river, groundwater and surface water flows through the SSSIs. We will compare these results with the flow objectives to highlight any licences which may be causing undesirable changes either on their own or collectively with others.
How will you change my licence?
Where a licence application has been submitted for a renewal or licence variation
If we receive a licence application from you, we will assess your proposal and determine your application. If sustainability changes are required a new or varied licence will be issued upon determination, in line with the required changes. Please be aware your licence application may be on hold whilst our investigations take place.
Where no licence application has been submitted
The easiest way to change your licence is to apply voluntarily to vary it under Section 51 of the Water Resources Act 1991. We will explain how your licence needs to be changed and you will need to fill in a short form to say you want your licence to change in this way. We will then consider your application, and if satisfied with the proposed change to your licence, we will issue the varied version to you.
If you do not volunteer to change your licence then we will serve notice of our proposal to change it under Section 52 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
If you do change my licence as part of this project, will it be sustainable in the future?
Any licence changes we identify will be made to protect the conservation status of The Broads SAC. We are also required to consider the environmental sustainability of abstraction at a wider catchment scale under the requirements of the Water Framework Directive.
This may mean that we need to make further changes to licences in the future; particularly in the light of climate change and changing patterns of water use due to population growth.