The arrangements will allow farmers to trade water
allowances - as set out in their abstraction licence -
on a short-term basis, without the need to change their
licence. The EA will fast-track the process to enable
farmers to act quickly and arrangements will be agreed
locally where the EA is satisfied that there will not
be any adverse effects on the environment or the rights
of other lawful water users. The EA also monitors river
flow and will maximise access to water when it is
available, such as following heavy rain.
In severe cases where there is a real or imminent
threat to crops and livestock, the EA may temporarily
allow additional, emergency abstraction. Each case will
be assessed to minimise impacts to the environment or
the rights of other water users.
Paul Hickey, head of water resources, Environment
Agency said:
We know that farmers are facing considerable
pressures in responding to drought conditions and we
want to support them by allowing them to flex their
abstraction licences in the most serious cases to
safeguard food production and animal welfare.
We must also balance farmers’ needs with those of
wildlife and other water users so we will only allow
these arrangements where we are satisfied there won’t
be any adverse effects on the environment.
As the hot, dry weather is set to continue we urge
everyone to use water wisely to protect the
environment and help prevent the need for water
restrictions.
The Environment Agency will continue to carry out
compliance checks on abstraction licences to ensure
that abstractors keep to their licences and any agreed
flexible arrangements.
The temporary arrangements do not apply to water
companies as they are able to use a variety of drought
measures defined in law to manage droughts and public
water supply. The Environment Agency works closely with
water companies to ensure they are following drought
plans and implementing actions to conserve water in a
timely way.
Notes to Editors
It is up to abstractors to ensure that they use water
wisely, efficiently and have sufficient water for their
needs.
Any flexible arrangements will be one-off, limited to
this event. If any abstraction outside a licence is
likely to need to re-occur, licence holders must apply
to vary the licence at the earliest opportunity.
It is important that water abstraction licence holders
check their licence details - licence holders can now
view and manage water
abstraction licences online
The Environment Agency can review hands off flow
conditions more frequently to allow abstractors to take
advantage of any peak flows when significant rainfall
occurs.
Use of water company headroom by other abstractors
where this is sustainable. Southern and Anglian Water
have said that in principle this can be provided and we
are awaiting details from the companies on their
proposals.
