If you have an authorisation to carry out activities in, on, or near to water, or to discharge to the water environment, you’re likely to have a CAR authorisation under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR). This could either be a licence or a registration, or your activity might be covered by a General Binding Rule (GBR).
Transition to EASR – existing authorisations
The regulation of water activities moves under the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations (EASR) from 1st November this year. When this happens, all existing CAR authorisations will also transition and become EASR authorisations.
The change will happen automatically, and in most cases the conditions of your authorisation will stay the same.
However, for some existing CAR registrations, the conditions of your authorisation may change. If you cannot comply with the new conditions, you might need to apply for a new authorisation.
If you have a CAR registration for a private sewage treatment system or septic tank, you will not have to do anything provided you are complying with your existing conditions.
Plan ahead and find out how your existing authorisation will transition to avoid any disruption to your operations.
Transition to EASR – new authorisations
The Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations will remain in place until 1st November 2025.
This means you will be able to apply for a CAR authorisation until 31st October 2025. Your application will be determined under the existing CAR regime, and issued (if granted) as a CAR authorisation. This will then automatically move to an EASR authorisation in the same way that an existing CAR licence or registration would.
If you apply for a new authorisation after 31st October, you’ll need to apply for an EASR authorisation.
