FOI release

Drinking Water Abstraction Enquiry

Case reference EIR2026/50410

Received 1 October 2026

Published 29 October 2026

Request

EnviroSolution is an environmental consultancy currently undertaking a COMAH environmental risk assessment (using the CDOIF methodology) on behalf of the operator of a site at 40, Acre Site, Belasis Avenue, Stockton-on-Tees, Billingham, TS23 1QY.

As part of this assessment, we need to identify any groundwater or surface water abstractions used for public or private drinking water supply within approximately 10km of the site, as these are relevant receptors under the assessment methodology.

Could you advise:

* The number of groundwater and/or surface water abstraction licences within approximately 10km of the site used for drinking water purposes;

* The distance and direction to the closest such abstraction; and

* Whether there are any other abstractions in the wider vicinity that the Agency would consider relevant to flag, beyond the 10km radius, given local hydrogeological or hydrological conditions.

We already hold Source Protection Zone information for this site, so this enquiry relates specifically to abstraction licence data.

We would be grateful for any guidance you can provide, or for a point of contact better placed to assist with this enquiry.

Response

I am writing in response to your request for information, received 1 October 2026, regarding Drinking Water Abstraction Enquiry.

We respond to requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

We have reviewed Environment Agency abstraction licence records for drinking water supplies in the vicinity of the site.

Within a 10 km radius of the site, we identified the following licensed drinking water abstractions:

  • Licence 1/25/04/009 - Anglian Water Services Ltd, public water supply, groundwater abstraction from the Permian Magnesian Limestone aquifer at Dalton Piercy.

  • Licence 1/25/04/118 - Anglian Water Services Ltd, public water supply, groundwater abstraction from the Permian Magnesian Limestone aquifer at Crookfoot.

  • Licence 1/25/04/008 - Anglian Water Services Ltd, public water supply, groundwater abstraction from the Permian Magnesian Limestone aquifer at Hartlepool.

The closest drinking water source identified is the Anglian Water Services Ltd Dalton Piercy public water supply abstraction (Licence 1/25/04/009), located approximately 8.64 km north-east of the site (NZ 47204 22867). This abstraction is a groundwater source from the Permian Magnesian Limestone aquifer.

We have not identified any abstractions over 10km from the site which need to be considered due to local hydrogeological or hydrological conditions.

Please note that abstraction licences indicate where abstraction is authorised and do not necessarily confirm that abstraction is currently taking place. You may also find it helpful to contact your Local Authority as they are able to provide more information about Private Water Supplies.

Please refer to the Open Government Licence which explains the permitted use of this information.

Rights of appeal

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If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you can then make an appeal to the Information Commissioner Office, the statutory regulator for the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please follow this link to the ICO online complaints portal. The address is: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire. SK9 5AF.

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