Abstraction of Water

English Legal System: Abstraction of Water

In the context of the English law, A Dictionary of Law provides the following legal concept of Abstraction of Water : The taking of water from a river or other source of supply. It normally requires a water authority licence but there are exceptions; for example when less than 1000 gallons are taken, when the water is for domestic or agricultural use (excluding spray irrigation), or when it is removed in the course of fire-fighting or land drainage. It has been held not to include gravitational loss from a canal replacing water drawn from a connecting outfall channel.