How to apply for a water authorisation
In Scotland controls over activities which may affect Scotland’s water environment are now regulated under the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations (EASR). You may need an authorisation from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) before carrying out an activity.
The level of authorisation required will depending on the type and scale of activity you are carrying out. The different types of authorisations are:
- General Binding Rules (GBR)
- Notification
- Registration
- Permit
You should refer to the SEPA water activities webpages to determine what type of authorisation you may require.
If you are still unsure which authorisation you require, Contact SEPA.
Pre-application enquiries can be sent to waterpermitting@sepa.org.uk
In Northern Ireland the discharge of trade or sewage waste to any waterway, or any water contained underground requires the consent of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. This includes waste from any commercial, industrial or domestic premises not connected to the public sewer.
Further information on consents can be found here: Discharges | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk).
Abstraction and impoundment of water may require a licence. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency monitors and controls abstraction and impoundment of water in Northern Ireland through the licensing Regulations.
Further information on licences can be found here: Applying to abstract or impound water | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk).
Provide the correct information
You should apply to your environmental regulator using the official, most up to date, application form and provide all required information. Providing accurate and relevant information will help speed up the process of assessing your application and will cut down on unnecessary delays waiting for additional information.
In Scotland guidance on specific activities can be found on the SEPA website:
- Water discharge guidance can be found here: SEPA: Water discharge
- Water abstraction guidance can be found here: SEPA: Water abstraction
- Water impoundment guidance can be found here: SEPA: Impoundments
- River engineering guidance can be found here: SEPA: Engineering
In Northern Ireland, guidance on specific activities can be found on the DAERA website:
- Water abstraction & Impoundment guidance: Applying to abstract or impound water | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk).
- Regulating Sewage Discharges Regulating sewage discharges | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)
- Regulating Water Discharges Regulating water discharges | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)