Surface water and groundwater abstraction
Find out about the authorisations needed for the abstraction of water from watercourses, lochs, groundwater and coastal and transitional waters, including for the operation of a hydropower scheme.
Abstraction from the water environment less than 10m³ per day
Find out about the General Binding Rule (GBR 2) that applies to the abstraction of water from the water environment of less than 10m³ per day.
Abstraction from groundwater for geothermal energy
Find out about the General Binding Rule (GBR 17) that applies to the abstraction and subsequent return of groundwater for the purpose of geothermal activities.
Borehole abstraction for testing or sampling less than 150m³ water per year
Find out about the General Binding Rule (GBR 4) that applies to the abstraction of groundwater for testing and sampling and any subsequent discharge of the abstracted water, where the total volume of water abstracted is less than 150 m³/year.
Temporary abstraction of groundwater from a construction site for dewatering
Find out about the General Binding Rule (GBR 15) that applies to the temporary abstraction of groundwater at a construction site by pumping the groundwater directly from any excavations or pumping the groundwater from any wells or boreholes to dewater excavations.
Abstraction from inland waters from 10m³ to 50m³ per day
Find out about the registration authorisation needed for the abstraction from inland waters from 10m³ to 50m³ of water per day
Abstraction from seawater or from groundwater under the seabed
Find out about the registration authorisation needed for the abstraction of water from coastal or transitional waters or groundwater below the bed of coastal or transitional waters.
Borehole abstraction for testing and sampling more than 150m³ water per year
Find out about the registration authorisation needed for the abstraction of groundwater for testing and sampling and any subsequent discharge of the abstracted water, where the total volume of water abstracted is more than 50 m³/day but less than or equal to 500 m³/day and more than 150 m³/yr but less than or equal to 5000 m³/year.
The abstraction of water from an offline impoundment
Find out about the registration authorisation needed for the abstraction of water from an offline impoundment (e.g. storage pond) fed solely by field drains or groundwater.
Abstraction from and discharge back to the same freshwater loch
Find out about the registration authorisation needed for the abstraction of water from and discharge back to the same freshwater loch.
Abstraction of inland water for all non-hydro power of 50m³ or more per day
Find out about the permit authorisation needed for the abstraction of inland water for all non-hydropower of more than 50m³ per day.
Abstraction of inland water for hydro power of more than 50m³ per day
Find out about the permit authorisation needed for the abstraction from inland water for hydropower of more than 50m³ per day.
Search the public register
Search for an authorisation document that you or someone else holds.
Need to speak to someone?
If you need further information or have an enquiry about authorisations, contact us. We aim to respond to your enquiry as quickly as possible.