The EPA have launched a register of water abstractions in accordance with the European Union (Water Policy) (Abstractions Registration) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 261 of 2018). People who abstract 25 cubic meters (25,000 litres) of water or more per day are required to register their water abstraction.

This water abstraction register data will be used in conjunction with information on discharges, flow and water level data, and water status to identify if there are any rivers, lakes or groundwater bodies that have unsustainable abstractions that require active management.

The requirement to register relates only to abstractions with a daily maximum volume of 25 cubic meters (25,000 litres) or more. Existing abstractions greater than this volume must be registered through the EPA EDEN portal within four months of the commencement of the regulations, i.e. by 16th November 2018. Thereafter, for new abstractions, there is a requirement to register within one month of the commencement of the abstraction.

There is no requirement to register abstractions with a daily maximum volume of less than 25 cubic meters (25,000 litres). It will not be possible to complete a registration if the daily maximum volume is less than 25 cubic meters (25,000 litres). Small private supplies, e.g. using domestic wells (which typically abstract between 0.5 – 1.0 cubic meter of water per day) do not require registration.

Further information and guidance on how to register are available at the following link.
https://www.epa.ie/licensing/watwaste/watabs/