Apply now for a water screening study 

Groups of farmers in England can now apply for a Local Resource Option (LRO) screening study.

An LRO is a local water project designed to improve the reliability and resilience of water supplies in an area.

The studies help neighbouring farmers explore and rank practical options for improving water supply resilience and securing reliable access to water for the future.

This year, applications are also welcomed from farm groups that include local non-agricultural businesses, where they could contribute to potential solutions.

To apply, groups need to nominate a lead farmer or contact to coordinate the application and gather information from the participating farms.

The process to apply is competitive, but if successful, the Environment Agency will appoint specialist water resources consultants to carry out the screening study.

As part of the process, consultants will visit the farms included in the application to discuss current water use, future water needs and longer-term business ambitions.

The consultants will then build a picture of water resources and demand in your area using: 

summary information about local abstraction licences  records of recent abstraction  information provided by participating farming businesses about water use and future needs  publicly available information on local rivers, groundwater, geology and climate  information from regional water resources groups about existing or planned projects 

Using this information, the consultants will screen and rank the water resource options that may work best for your group. 

Types of LROs include: 

farm storage reservoirs (new, resizing and/or change to multi-season operation)  water rights trading  water efficiency tools  water rights sharing (for example, Lincoln Water Transfer)  demand management and leakage reduction  abstraction and storage of high-flow water (floodwater)  improving connectivity of existing sources  treated effluent/wastewater reuse  land drainage water use (for example, Felixstowe Hydrocycle)  managed aquifer recharge  rainwater harvesting  conjunctive use schemes (a mix of groundwater and surface water)  How to apply  1. Read the guidance 

The LRO guidance on GOV.UK sets out all the details. It explains who can apply and how the process works. Make sure you check the eligibility criteria before applying. 

2. Form a group 

Groups of farmers can apply to the Environment Agency to have an LRO screening study carried out in their area. 

The groups are informal rather than legal. For example, this could involve neighbouring farms with shared water challenges or similar future needs. 

3. Choose a lead applicant and contact 

One farming business within the group should take the lead. 

4. Complete and submit your application 

Once you’ve gathered the required information and completed the application form, email your application to the Environment Agency by 23:59 on Sunday 5 July 2026. 

The Environment Agency will then review your application. 

What to expect 

If your application is eligible, the Environment Agency will arrange an initial meeting with your group and begin appointing a water resources consultant. 

The consultant will visit participating farms to understand how water is currently used, what future demand may look like, and what the group wants to achieve in terms of resilience and reliability of supply. 

They will then identify and rank the most relevant LROs for your area. 

At the end of the process, your group will receive a report outlining the top options, including: 

high-level cost estimates  potential water yield  possible next steps 

Your group will need to provide input throughout the study. 

Most studies take around 3 to 4 months to complete after a consultant has been appointed. 

The aim is to help farmers and growers work together to identify practical, cost-effective ways to improve resilience and reduce future water supply risks. 

Previous participants have used the findings to explore funding opportunities, seek planning advice and develop longer-term water management plans for their businesses. 

Where challenges were more complex, the studies also helped farmers better understand their options and start conversations with regulators, neighbouring farms and local partners. 

Examples from previous rounds of the programme are available through the Water Hub case studies. 

Please note that planning permission or permits, including any required abstraction licences, are not automatically granted as part of the study process. Any proposed solutions would still need to go through the normal application processes. 

Building on what we’ve learned so far 

In 2024, we ran the first round of LRO screening studies, supporting 20 projects involving more than 100 farms across 4 of the 5 regions of England. 

In 2025, we supported a further 13 projects involving nearly 70 farms across all 5 regions of England. 

The groups ranged from 2 to 14 farms and explored a wide variety of approaches to improving water resilience in response to climate change and uncertainty around future abstraction. 

Some groups focused on infrastructure solutions such as reservoirs, high-flow abstraction or water recycling. Others explored more collaborative approaches, including: 

water rights sharing and trading  improving use of existing licences and storage  nature-based approaches such as managed aquifer recharge and wetland creation 

Feedback from participating farmers was positive. Many valued the opportunity to receive practical, expert advice while working collaboratively with neighbouring farms facing similar challenges. 

Several groups have since used their study results to apply for funding,  submit planning applications or continue working together through abstraction groups and catchment partnerships.  

Subscribe

The Environment Agency works to protect and improve the environment, manage flood risk and support sustainable development. Its blog, Creating a better place, provides insight into its work.

For the latest videos, podcasts and updates from the Farming and Countryside Team, subscribe to the Farming Blog. By subscribing,  you'll receive an email whenever a new post is published.

https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/05/26/apply-now-for-a-water-screening-study-2/

seen at 11:39, 26 May in The Farming Blog.