Policy paper

Managing water abstraction

How government, water companies and the Environment Agency make sure there is enough water for future needs of both people and the environment.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 3 May 2013
• Last updated: 8 April 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 8 April 2026

     Added under section 4.3 Abstraction licensing strategies (ALS) that each ALS outlines the potential for trading using water availability. Added a link to the Environment Agency's guidance 'Trade water abstractions rights'.

  2. 16 October 2025

     Update made to the North Cornwall, Seaton and Fowey WFD management area (North Cornwall RAM ledger) abstracting licencing strategy. The current common end date was updated to 31 March 2029 and the next common end date to 31 March 2041. An update was also made to the North Cornwall, Seaton and Fowey WFD management area (Seaton, Looe and Fowey RAM ledger) abstracting licencing strategy. The next common end date was updated to 31 March 2040.

  3. 8 April 2021

     Edited section 8 Water company plans: from ‘Water companies have a statutory duty to produce water resources business plans, WRMPs and drought plans.’ to ‘Water companies produce business plans, WRMPs and drought plans.’

  4. 1 April 2021

     This document has been updated (and produced as an accessible html) to explain the current plans and strategies related to water resources. It is designed to help understand how the plans fit together and explain how and why we do this work.

  5. 25 October 2016

     The Managing Water Abstraction policy paper has been updated.

  6. 3 May 2013

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Managing water abstraction

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Details

The government, water companies and the Environment Agency have written a number of plans and strategies. Together they make sure there is enough water for future needs of both people and the environment. This document explains how they do this.