Guidance

Abstract or impound water: hydrological information needed for your licence application

The hydrological information the Environment Agency may need when you apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

If you plan to abstract or impound water, the Environment Agency may need you to provide flow data with your application. If you want to clarify whether data is needed and what type, you can get advice before you apply for a licence to abstract or impound water.  

The flow data normally needed includes: 

  • flow duration statistics including the mean flow value 
  • details of how you have produced the flow duration statistics 
  • flow measurements to validate the flow duration statistics 
  • hydrographs showing the impact of your proposal 

This guidance explains what these terms mean and how you can get the information.

Updates to this page

Published 16 December 2021
Last updated 13 December 2023 + show all updates
  1. Clarified what flow data may be needed as part of an application and highlighted the option to use the enhanced pre-application service to get advice on this before applying.

  2. First published.

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