§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria are taken into account by the Environment Agency in deciding whether an application to abstract water from bore holes can be granted with an acceptable impact on the environment.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)The Environment Agency takes into account in this regard (i) the effect of the abstraction on local and regional water levels, (ii) the consequential impact on river flows and wetlands, (iii) the related effects on flora and fauna, and (iv) the effects on other water users.