Irrigation, Abstraction, and AD: What Developers and Landowners Need to Know                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Recent investigations have highlighted a growing issue within UK agriculture: more than 150 farms across England have exceeded legal limits on water abstraction, primarily to support crop irrigation during an especially dry spring.

The Environment Agency (EA) has responded with increased inspections, citing the need to protect river flows and ensure fair, legal use of water resources. This has immediate and longer-term implications for farmers, landowners, and developers, particularly those involved in anaerobic digestion (AD), energy crops, or infrastructure reliant on irrigation.

Abstraction from rivers, boreholes and watercourses is tightly regulated here in the UK; with more frequent dry spells experienced in recent years, abstraction licence compliance is under greater scrutiny than ever before, and failure to operate within permitted volumes can lead to enforcement action, reputational damage, and project delays, especially if linked to broader land development or AD applications.

However, for farmers, often the cost/benefit of increased crop production continues to outweigh the risks of being prosecuted for over abstraction by the EA.

The current regulatory environment favours landowners who can demonstrate robust water management plans and long-term resilience, including adequate abstraction licences, backup supplies, and, increasingly, on-farm storage solutions.

One solution gaining traction is the development of winter-fill irrigation reservoirs. These store water during wetter months - when abstraction is less restricted - for use in the much hotter, drier seasons: spring and summer, reducing reliance on direct river abstraction at peak demand.

In fact, reservoir projects are becoming an important asset for landowners seeking planning permission for crop-based AD plants or integrated agricultural developments. In some areas, funding may be available through catchment partnerships or water companies keen to support sustainable abstraction alternatives.

AD developers must also be alert to how feedstock supply and plant operations interact with effective water management:

Energy crops like maize and grass silage are water-intensive: and rely on timely irrigation for consistent yields. Projects that depend on these crops need to factor in the reliability of local water access over the long term.

AD plants require water for multiple functions and activities: for slurry dilution, digester balance, and cleaning. On sites with limited mains access, this often means surface or groundwater abstraction.

Digestate storage and runoff: this must be managed to avoid pollution, especially during periods of heavy rainfall or if tanks are located in high-risk flood areas.

For both AD and agricultural development, we’re starting to see a clear shift: water infrastructure is no longer a secondary concern, it’s central to planning, permitting, and the long-term viability of projects. Projects that consider water supply, licensing, and on-site storage from the outset are more likely to gain approval and attract funding.

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With regulatory scrutiny increasing and enforcement actions on the rise, securing reliable, compliant water resources has become a critical planning factor for agricultural and renewable energy projects alike.

Developers should consider early engagement with the Environment Agency, explore winter-fill storage options, and ensure water abstraction is fully factored into feasibility studies and long-term site viability.