I'm in discussion with DEFRA with regards to the over-abstraction from ground water supplies through the general licence exemption of single wells taking 20 000l/day or less. The Derbyshire aquifers have seen a considerable burden placed upon them recently with most farms now installing a well or two. DEFRA say that no confirmed cases of environmental damage had occurred when they exempt the licence in 2003 and continue to claim this is the case.

Two things:
It highlights the need for reporting problems. Not too long ago DEFRA/MAFF were told by a crayfish expert that the import of signal crayfish from Sweden would not harm native populations of English Native White-clawed Crayfish, because no White Clawed existed in Britain. They believed him, granted his licence to import and his self serving, self fulfilling prophesy came to pass.

Does anyone have any evidence that abstraction from the ground to feed mainly farms and residences has lessened flows in rivers to a level where environmental harm has been caused?

Personal boreholes

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Can't speak for the U.K. but in France this is a major problem down south. Add to this that Farmers are often allowed to pump directly from the rivers and you can imagine the consequences!

Take care

Terry

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Just heard that no new licences will be permitted for the catchment due to likely environmental harm. There doesn't exist a mechanism for closing the sub 20k abstractions nor checking them once on place.

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May be worth getting in touch with the Association of Rivers Trusts to see if they are aware of any examples. Each local Trust will have a handle on the particular issues that affect the catchment they operate in.
cheers
Paul

It actually scunners me that anglers are always whingeing that someone else has an interest in the water that we use.

It is amazing how motivated the farming lobby is at the moment as we come into the next round of dividing up what water we have. I take the CLA mag and there is something in that every month. Nothing much from the angling fraternity compared to agriculture.

Thanks for the tip re: Rivers Trust. I'm meeting one later today.

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http://www.haddonestate.co.uk/rivers/rivers.php
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Our club is constantly in a battle over excessive abstraction as listed in the "Rivers on the Edge" campaign. Luckily we have some great members who fight our corner with some vigor along with local wildlife agencies which (at the moment) limits the damage.

Let's just look at that again GuyFromLaw...

Anglers are the ones (usually the first and often the only ones) who notice harm being done to moving water courses and their inhabitant species.

Anglers are the ones who are actually bothered by what happens to moving water courses and their inhabitant species.

The others care nothing for the moving water courses and all the flora and fauna that depend on their good health. So long as they can take the water itself they are happy. So long as they can discharge their waste cheaply they are happy.

Anglers, at their best, are the guardians of our moving water courses.

Anglers have a vested interest in the health of our moving water courses.

Does anyone else? Think hard before you answer.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Couldn't agree more.

This is a new one Warren.....or at least it reads as not being a renewal of existing
I noted this when I was looking up the latest Hydro application on Hebden Water to extract 3000 cubic meters per HOUR......this will leave 800m of depleted river.
I have invert records for the depleted length so should be able to show any change.

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