By law, if you abstract between 25m3/day and 1,999m3 inclusive in any 24-hour period, you must register this abstraction with the EPA. See How to register a water abstraction.
The EPA will carry out assessments (significance assessment and assessment of certain abstractions for retrospective EIA or EIA) to determine if an abstraction between 25m3/day and 1,999m3/day requires a licence. These assessments will be carried out using the EPA Methodology to assess the impact of abstractions on waterbodies and identify significant abstractions in Ireland and the EPA Technical Guidance on Retrospective EIA (rEIA) Considerations for Abstractions. If your abstraction is deemed to require a licence, you will be required to make a licence application. If deemed to require a licence, see How to apply for a water abstraction licence.
If one of the following scenarios applies to you, click for further information.
I have an existing abstraction in the range 25 – 1,999m3/day
Where your water abstraction was not previously registered with the EPA, you must register it. See How to register a water abstraction.
For a registered abstraction, you must update the details on the register where material changes to the particulars have occurred or following a request from the EPA.
The EPA will assess abstractions in the range 25 – 1,999m3/day on the register and determine if a licence is required or not. This assessment will be repeated every six years.
If deemed to require a licence, see How to apply for a water abstraction licence.
If you presently carry out an existing abstraction between 25m3/day and 1,999m3/day inclusive, you may continue to abstract until, if applicable, such time as a licence application has been determined.
I propose to increase an existing abstraction, and it will be in the range 25 – 1,999m3/day.
If you intend to increase an existing abstraction such that revised abstraction volume will be in the range of 25 – 1,999m3/day, you must first notify the EPA by updating information for the abstraction on the register. An assessment will be carried out by the EPA to determine if the revised abstraction requires a licence or not. You cannot commence the revised abstraction until the EPA has made a determination. You may continue the existing abstraction until such time as the EPA has made a determination. See How to register a water abstraction and update a water abstraction registration.
Where a licence is required, you must make an application for a licence, and you cannot commence the revised abstraction until the licence has been granted. You may continue the existing abstraction until such time as the EPA has made a determination.
I propose to commence a new abstraction in the range 25 – 1,999m3/day.
If you intend to carry out a new abstraction that is in the range of 25 – 1,999m3/day, you must first notify the EPA by registering the proposed abstraction and an assessment will be carried out by the EPA to determine if the proposed abstraction requires a licence or not. You cannot commence the abstraction until the EPA has made a determination. See How to register a water abstraction.
Where a licence is required, you must make an application for a licence, and you cannot commence the abstraction until the licence has been granted.
If you are informed that you need to apply for a licence, you should do so within 6 months from the date that EPA informs you that a licence is required.
Applying for an extension of the timeline to make licence application
If required, you can apply for extension of the timeline to make a water abstraction licence application under Section 15(7) of the Act, by filling in this form and returning it to licensing@epa.ie.