Water resources charge proposals from April 2022

We want to reform our water resources charging scheme so it’s fairer, works better for business and the environment and is financially sustainable.

We issue water abstraction licences to allocate water and so we can manage water resources. We get funding for this from abstraction or impounding licence charges.

We have not increased charges for 10 years, except for one change to the application fee. During this time the work and cost to manage water resources has increased. We are not fully recovering costs for the water resources service we need to provide.

Our proposed changes to the charging scheme will increase our income and help us manage water better. It will:

• mean better access to water and security of supply for the public and business
• make our charges fairer for our customers
• mean we can invest more in our assets to make sure they are safe, effective, cost efficient and resilient
• allow us to better monitor water so it’s available for our customers when they need it
• enable us to modernise the regulatory regime and provide better digital services for our customers
• help us protect and enhance the environment using a more sustainable approach to water abstraction – in particular for rare and sensitive habitats
• mean we can better prepare for protecting the environment, businesses and the public during prolonged dry weather