Do I need a Licence to drill a water well?
In England and Wales, under the Water Act 2003 any borehole or well yielding less than 20 cu metres per day (4400 gallons per day) does not currently require a consent to drill and test pump or to extract water up to that limit. For intended yields in excess of 20 cu metres per day then a Clause 32 Consent is required from the local EA to drill and test pump any borehole and an extraction licence is required to pump the borehole after the test pumping is completed. In Scotland, under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (CAR), application to SEPA for authorisation is not required for drilling and abstraction from any borehole intended for the abstraction of less than 10m3/d, intended for the purpose of dewatering or intended for the abstraction of Records of any drilling deeper than 15 metres and the test pump records are required to be send to the BGS at Wallingford. The records should also be retained with any property deeds.
