Watchdog warns of enforcement action as Illegal abstraction rises in West

Illegal abstraction is escalating in the west of England according to the Environment Agency (EA). And the watchdog has warned abstraction licence holders to “think before you drill.”

“Illegal abstraction is on the increase in some parts of the West country where boreholes are drilled without the appropriate permission,” the agency said. Senior environment officer at the agency, Caz Lane, said it was undertaking spot checks “to ensure licence holders remain compliant,” and failure to comply can lead ti enforcement action.

The EA has advised people to check their abstraction licence. “Restrictions can come into force after periods of dry weather so it is important licence holders know when to stop or reduce the amount of water they abstract. They also need to be aware of any specific conditions that apply,” it said.