Water impoundment licence
Water impoundment refers to structures within inland waters that can permanently or temporarily change the water level or flow, such as:
- Dams.
- Weirs.
- Fish passes.
- Hydropower turbines.
- Sluices.
- Penstocks.
- Culverts.
- Lock gates.
- Retaining walls.
- Flumes.
- Reservoir embankments.
- Temporary diversions during construction work.
Ref https://www.gov.uk/guidance/water-management-abstract-or-impound-water#impoundment
It is necessary to have an appropriate licence before work begins on a water impoundment structure - even in the case of an emergency. For more information, see Apply for a water abstraction or impoundment licence. There are certain impoundment activities with low environmental risks or other conditions where exemptions to this rule may apply.
The Environment Agency may take enforcement action against those who do not apply before impounding water. Further details are available from Water management: abstract or impound water
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Environment Agency.
- Environmental engineering.
- Environmental impact assessment EIA.
- Hydrogeological Impact Appraisal HIA.
- Passive dewatering.
- Raising awareness of dewatering regulation.
- Water abstraction licence.
- Water engineering.
- Water management.
[edit] External resources
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.






















