Licence compliance
Proactive compliance management to keep your water licence in good standing — inspections, monitoring, returns and EA liaison.
Stay compliant with your water licence
Holding a water abstraction or discharge licence comes with ongoing obligations. The Environment Agency requires licence holders to comply with specific conditions covering abstraction volumes, monitoring, reporting and environmental protection.
We specialise in ensuring licence compliance for our clients through comprehensive site inspections, expert guidance and proactive monitoring. Our priority is to help you comply with your licence and avoid enforcement action.
For example, if you approach your annual authorised volume, we'll discuss how to adjust usage to stay within limits — or apply to increase your licence quantities through a licence uplift application.
Enforcement risk
If you breach licence conditions or commit an offence, the EA may take enforcement action including formal warnings, civil sanctions, licence revocation or prosecution. Proactive compliance management is significantly cheaper than reactive enforcement response.
Priority visits
We prioritise visits to sites with high potential for environmental damage or poor compliance history, ensuring the most at-risk licences receive the closest attention.
Our compliance services
Site inspections
Thorough on-site inspections to verify compliance with all licence conditions — abstraction infrastructure, metering, monitoring points and environmental safeguards.
Abstraction returns
Preparation and submission of abstraction returns to the EA, ensuring data is accurate, complete and submitted on time to avoid penalties.
Condition reviews
Detailed review and interpretation of your licence conditions. We identify potential compliance gaps and recommend corrective actions before the EA does.
Volume monitoring
Ongoing monitoring of abstraction volumes against licence limits. Early warning when usage approaches thresholds, with advice on water-saving measures or licence uplift.
Licence uplift
Where your water needs have increased, we prepare and submit licence variation applications to increase your authorised abstraction volumes.
Licence renewal
Licence renewal applications including updated supporting data, environmental assessments and EA engagement to ensure continuity of your permission.
Typical licence conditions we manage
Every licence is different, but these are the common conditions that require ongoing attention and reporting.
Quantity limits
Maximum volume or flow rate — often measured daily, monthly and annually.
Timing restrictions
Seasonal limitations — some licences restrict abstraction during dry months or drought conditions.
Purpose of use
Water must only be used for the purpose stated in your licence (e.g. irrigation, potable, process).
Monitoring & reporting
Meter installation, regular readings and submission of abstraction returns to the EA.
How we help licence holders
New licence holders
We set up your compliance framework from the start — metering, monitoring schedule, returns calendar and condition tracking.
Existing licence holders
We audit your current compliance status, identify gaps and establish ongoing management to keep your licence in good standing.
Poor compliance history
If you've received warnings or enforcement notices, we help you remediate issues and rebuild compliance with the EA.
Multi-site operators
Centralised compliance management across multiple licences and sites, with consolidated monitoring and reporting.
Licence transfers
When buying or selling a property or business with an existing licence, we manage the transfer application and compliance handover.
Licence surrender
If you no longer need your licence, we manage the surrender process including any decommissioning conditions.
Need help with licence compliance?
Contact us for a compliance review or ongoing management support.