§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if water extracted from boreholes or aquifers requires a water extraction licence: and if he will make a statement. [38994]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe National Rivers Authority has a duty to manage water resources, including groundwater, under part II of the Water Resources Act 1991. Most abstractions from groundwater require a licence from the authority. The major exemptions are for agriculture or domestic use below 20cm per day.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by(a) region or county and (b) location the number of new water extraction licences that have been approved since 1 July; and if he will indicate the amount of water granted to be extracted. [38993]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe number of new abstraction licences issued by the National Rivers Authority between 1 July and 15 October, with their associated quantities, are as follows:
Region Number of new licences Quantity(Megalitres perannum) Anglian 26 462 North West 21 200 Northumbria and Yorkshire 38 2,751 Severn Trent 53 6,811 Southern 5 14,708 South Western 34 13,040 Thames 4 2,801 Welsh 22 35,920 Total 203 76,693 These figures do not include variations, successions, drought orders or re-issued time limited licences. The quantities for Welsh, South Western and Southern regions have been distorted by the issue of several very large, low loss licences—fish farms, Hydropower and cooling.