DEFRA aims to tighten water abstraction rules
Limits on how much water farmers can abstract to irrigate their crops could be introduced as part of government proposals to reform the way water supplies are managed.
Ministers are planning a shake-up of the existing water abstraction licensing system in a bid to make it more environmentally-friendly and more able to adapt to the country’s water needs.
They say the current rules are not flexible enough to deal with alternating floods and droughts caused by climate change, or with increasing demand for water due to population growth.
Under the existing system, which has not changed since the 1960s, about 40% of licenses are granted as a “right” to abstract water.
Recently, the Environment Agency has started issuing fewer licenses and those it does issue are on a more cautious, time-limited basis.
However, ministers say those rules do little to protect the environment, leaving some river systems depleted and in poor shape.
In a consultation document launched by environment minister Dan Rogerson on Tuesday (17 December), DEFRA recommends limiting how much water farmers and other businesses can abstract based on how much water is available.
It also plans to give farmers with abstraction licenses a greater incentive to use water responsibly by making it easier and quicker to trade water.
Mr Rogerson said the reforms, which were expected to come into force in 2020 following legislation early in the next parliament, were crucial to safeguard the environment and allow the economy to grow.
He said it was vital farmers shared their views by the time the consultation ended on 28 March 2014 so that the government got the reform right.
Ian Ashbridge of agri-business consultants Bidwells said that while the farming industry only accounted for 1% of the total amount of water abstracted in England and Wales, they faced being hit the hardest if tough limits were introduced.
“Farmers use the greatest volumes at a time of year when it’s least available,” he said.
“Restricting water to food producers when we want them to produce more is misguided – farmers need to have their say in this consultation and make the case for water for food production.”
The consultation is available at www.gov.uk and is open until 28 March 2014.
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