Water Act 2003

Water Act 2003

2003 CHAPTER 37

Commentary on Sections

Part 4: Supplementary

Schedule 7 Minor and consequential amendments

438. Part 1 of this Schedule makes a number of minor changes to the abstraction and impounding licensing regime. These include provision in paragraph 2 for the EA to require reports, such as an environmental report, to accompany a licence application. Provision is also made by paragraph 10 to end the current exemption from charges for groundwater abstractions for agricultural use (other than spray irrigation) of less than 20m³ per day (generally such abstractions will become exempt from licence control and hence also from charges). Paragraph 14 replaces Schedule 6 of the WRA, and by doing so allows only the Environment Agency to apply for Orders to vary abstraction thresholds (section 6) and to establish Registers of Protected rights (section 18). The revised Schedule retains the structure and consultation requirements of the original Schedule 6, and adds the nature conservation authorities and the Broads Authority (where appropriate) to the list of consultees.

439. Various provisions amended by this schedule are devolved to the Assembly.