GAEC 2: Water abstraction

What you must do

You must have a licence from the Environment Agency (EA) to take (abstract) more than 20 cubic metres (4,400 gallons) of water, from an inland or underground source for irrigation, in a single day.
Once you have an abstraction licence (issued by the EA) you must comply with its conditions when abstracting water for irrigation purposes.
You don’t need a licence if you abstract 20 cubic metres (4,400 gallons) or less in a period of 24 hours, provided your abstraction is part of a single operation. If you abstract from the same source at multiple points, the exemption only applies if the combined total of all abstractions is 20 cubic metres or less a day.

There is more guidance available online about water management: abstract or impound water.

Rural Payments Agency: 0345 603 7777