Dozens of growers risk losing their water abstraction licences unless they act fast and renew before the end of 2012, the Environment Agency has warned.

More than three-quarters of the 750 time-limited water licences due to expire on 31 March 2013 have still not yet been submitted for renewal, the agency said.

Growers who hold one or more licences to abstract or impound water are being advised to check to see whether they include an expiry date, for all or part of the licence.

“If your licence, or part of it, expires in March 2013, and you want to continue using the water after that date, you need to apply to replace your licence before the deadline of 31 December 2012,” said Alastair Driver, national conservation manager, at the Environment Agency.

Otherwise, the EA might not be able to issue you with a new licence, or any replacement could be more restrictive and may involve advertising costs.

For applications for licences submitted on or before 31 December 2012, a new licence will be granted provided that:

• the application is for a licence on the same terms and conditions
• the operation continues to be environmentally sustainable
• you can justify the amount of water applied for
• you use the water efficiently.

With such a large number of applications still outstanding, the Environment Agency is asking licence holders not to wait until the deadline.

Mr Driver said: “It will help us to provide you with an efficient service if you send your renewal application as soon as possible, rather than waiting until close to the deadline.”

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