Abstraction of water for irrigation (GAEC 2)

Date published: 2 February, 2016

To see recent changes to this guidance, see the bottom of this page.

Abstraction of water for irrigation

The aim of these rules is to protect water resources by licensing abstraction of water for irrigation.

You must:

1. comply with the authorisation procedures for abstracting water for irrigation. The procedures differ depending on the abstraction volume:

the abstraction of less than 10 cubic metres of water per day is covered by General Binding Rules. If you intend to carry out this activity, and you comply with the rules set out below, your activity will be authorised. You don’t need to apply to SEPA for an authorisation
- you must be able to demonstrate that the abstraction is always less than 10 cubic metres in any one day (e.g. by measuring the rate of abstraction) or a means of demonstrating that the maximum volume that could be abstracted cannot exceed 10 cubic metres in any one day.
- water leakage must be kept to a minimum by ensuring all pipe work, storage tanks and other equipment associated with the abstraction and use of the water are maintained in a state of good repair
- abstraction must not be located within 50 metres of any existing well, spring or borehole used for a water supply.

if you abstract from 10 to 50 cubic metres of water per day you have to be registered with SEPA

if you abstract more than 50 cubic metres of water per day you have to be authorised by SEPA and hold an abstraction permit

2. comply with all the conditions of registration or those that relate to a water abstraction permit. Some of the conditions relate to:

demonstrating the quantity of water abstracted daily
maintenance of abstraction equipment
abstraction site
abstraction periods
maximum daily abstraction volumes
submitting an annual data return even if you don’t abstract any water

Further information

From 1 November 2025, Controlled Activities (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR) are no longer in effect. Water, waste management, and industrial activities are now regulated under Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR). This includes water extraction for irrigation purposes.

For further information, contact SEPA or visit their website using the following links:

SEPA customer services enquiries – 0300 99 66 99

Abstraction Rules - less than 10 cubic metres per day

Abstraction Rules - from 10 to 50 cubic metres per day

Abstraction rules - more than 50 cubic metres per day

Information on submitting annual water data returns for abstraction licence holders