Drought and water availability

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Services

• Water resources licence application forms

  Use these forms to apply for a water resources licence.

• Form WR80: application for a drought permit

  Application form for a drought permit for water companies in England and Wales.

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Guidance and regulation

• Apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence
  • Detailed guide
  • 1 June 2023
  • Environment Agency
• Check if you need a licence to abstract water
  • Detailed guide
  • 15 November 2024
  • Environment Agency
• Check if you need a licence to impound water
  • Detailed guide
  • 17 December 2024
  • Environment Agency
• Get advice before you apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence
  • Detailed guide
  • 3 July 2023
  • Environment Agency
• Trade water abstraction rights
  • Detailed guide
  • 20 March 2024
  • Environment Agency

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News and communications

• Governments launch largest review of sector since privatisation
  • 22 October 2024
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Welsh Government
  • Press release
• National Drought Group discusses preparations for extreme weather
  • 16 October 2024
  • Environment Agency and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • News story
• Minister for Africa Lord Collins Reaffirms UK-Ghana Partnership
  • 16 September 2024
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  • Press release
• Government announces first steps to reform water sector
  • 11 July 2024
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and The Water Services Regulation Authority
  • Press release
• AI-enabled data rescue from historic charts 
  • 9 July 2024
  • Accelerated Capability Environment
  • Case study

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Research and statistics

• A review of England’s revised draft regional and water resources management plans
  • 20 December 2024
  • Environment Agency
  • Research
• Understanding catchment responses to drought in current and future climates
  • 20 November 2024
  • Environment Agency
  • Research
• Water resources 2023-2024: analysis of the water industry’s annual water resources performance
  • 7 October 2024
  • Environment Agency
  • Research
• Review of the research and scientific understanding of drought
  • 28 November 2023
  • Environment Agency
  • Research
• Review of England’s emerging regional water resources plans
  • 24 May 2022
  • Environment Agency
  • Research

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Policy papers and consultations

• Proposed changes to the water company drought plan guideline
  • 16 December 2024
  • Environment Agency
  • Open consultation
  • Closing date 26 January 2025
• Drought: how it is managed in England – proposed updated response framework
  • 8 November 2024
  • Environment Agency
  • Open consultation
  • Closing date 10 January 2025
• Water resources charge proposals from April 2022
  • 1 April 2022
  • Environment Agency
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 10 November 2021
• Water conservation: measures to reduce personal water use
  • 2 July 2021
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 11 October 2019
• Tamar abstraction licensing strategy
  • 21 October 2024
  • Environment Agency
  • Policy paper

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Organisations

• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
• Government Actuary's Department

• Environment Agency

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• Natural England
• Accelerated Capability Environment