Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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Abstract definition

What does Abstract mean? In patent practice, an abstract is a short, stand‑alone summary of the technical disclosure in a patent application or granted patent. Its purpose is to help patent offices and third parties understand the gist of the invention quickly and to facilitate searching and classification. In the UK (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and Ireland, patent legislation and associated rules require an abstract forming part of the patent specification. It should concisely indicate the technical field, the problem addressed, the essential features of the solution, and, where relevant, principal use and the most illustrative drawing. The UK Intellectual...

Water abstraction and impounding in England and Wales: licensing regime under the Water Resources Act 1991—exemptions, applications, determinations, variations, transfers, appeals, trading and enforcement

Published by a LexisNexis Environment expert

Practice notes

Water abstraction and impounding—introduction

Abstraction occurs when surface water or groundwater is taken from any source of supply. It covers the temporary or permanent removal of water from that source, as well as the transfer of water between sources.

A source of supply comprises:

inland waters—rivers, streams, springs, reservoirs, lakes, ponds and canals—other than 'discrete waters'; and
groundwater, including water held in wells, boreholes and certain excavations, but not water stored in sewers, pipes, reservoirs, tanks or other underground works

'Discrete waters' means waters that do not discharge into other inland waters for the purposes of WRA 1991, s 221.

Per section 25(8) of the Water Resources Act 1991 (WRA 1991), 'impounding works' are any dams or other structures in inland waters by which water can be held back or diverted. This includes:

dams
weirs
fish passes
hydropower turbines
reservoir embankments
retaining walls
temporary diversion during construction work

Abstraction and impounding are central elements of the regulatory framework for managing and using water resources in England and Wales...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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