Thinking about building a farm reservoir?
Here is all the information you need to start planning, designing, operating and maintaining your reservoir
New booklets published in April 2026
Farm reservoirs: From optional to essential
Many parts of England, and particularly in the eastern counties are, facing growing pressure on agricultural water supplies, with droughts, abstraction restrictions and environmental targets reshaping future irrigation. Farm reservoirs are increasingly becoming essential infrastructure for business resilience — allowing growers to capture winter water, reduce dependence on summer abstraction and protect high-value crop production.
New practical farmer-focused reservoir guides have now been produced with support from Water Resources East and the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths and Dedham Vale National Landscapes. The guides cover planning, permissions, design, environmental integration, costs and collaboration, supported by real farm case studies from across Eastern England.
Click on the booklets to download
Useful links for more information related to farm reservoirs
Environmental Destination
https://wre.org.uk/environmental-destination/ or
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6847ff5189d002b886e787ad/Developing-the-revised Environmental-Destination-figures-technical-report.pdf
Applying for an abstraction licence
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/water-management-apply-for-a-water-abstraction-or-impoundment-licence
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1154/contents
Reservoir Safety Reform Programme updates
https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/reservoir-safety-reform
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2026
https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/02/24/farming-equipment-and-technology-fund-2026-guidance-now-available
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms?areas_of_interest%5B%5D=water-availability-and-storage
Water Abstractor Group (WAG) Directory
https://www.ukia.org/wags/
For Suffolk and Essex National Landscapes
Colour guide available for both National Landscapes
https://dedhamvale-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Dedham-Vale-Use-of-Colour-Guidance.pdf
https://coastandheaths-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SCH-Use-of-Colour-Guidance-v7.pdf
Investment in farm reservoirs conference Baston April 2026
Over 60 farmers and representatives of regional and national organisations who support the industry met to debate how the farming industry can use on-farm reservoirs to capture and store more peak flow or flood water. The development of on-farm reservoirs aims to: secure water supplies for agriculture; reduce flood risk; increase water storage across the landscape to benefit biodiversity; and reduce potentially harmful abstraction at low flow.
Click on the report to download
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