Water activities

Find out about the authorisations needed for the abstraction of water from the water environment, including for the operation of a hydropower scheme and any associated impoundments. It also covers the construction, extension or operation of any borehole.

Find out about the authorisations needed for the discharge to the water environment of sewage effluent, sewage from overflows, other effluents, water run-off and from hot tubs and from aquaculture.

Find out about the authorisations needed for activities that involve the building or engineering works in inland surface waters or wetlands, or in the vicinity of these waters, which have or are likely to have an impact on the water environment.

Find out about the authorisations needed for the construction, modification or operation of an impoundment in inland surface water, not associated with an abstraction, the operation of an impoundment in surface water or a wetland, or the removal of an impoundment, including for hydropower, in inland surface waters or wetlands.

Find out about the authorisations needed for activities that may cause pollution. This includes oil storage, the application of pesticides, agricultural or rural activities such as the cultivation of land, the disposal of waste sheep dip and the disposal of disinfectant washings.

This activity applies to other water activities which directly or indirectly has or is likely to have a significant adverse impact on the water environment. This includes the operation of marine pen fish farm, the operation and alteration of an engineered structure and the burial of animal carcases during the outbreak of notifiable disease.