Two 'water years'

At the half way point in my 'water year' (1st Oct to 30th Sep) output to the grid is holding up better than in previous years, a reflection of the wet time we've been having here in Wales (the green line is this year's plot):

Perhaps this'll even be the year I'll reach that dreamed of total of 4 MWh. 

The end of March marked the end of a different water year, the one set by the Environment Agency for water abstraction returns to be made (1st Apr to 31st Mar).

My abstraction licence limits me to 49,982 m³ and the close of their year saw my actual abstraction coming in at 46,365 m³. So that was alright then !

When I tried to submit this information on-line in the way that was possible last year to the 'English' Environment Agency, there was a problem: during the year abstraction returns had been devolved to the 'Welsh' Environment Agency, aka Natural Resources Wales.

Unfortunately, and not only unfortunately but also un-surprisingly, NRW had not prepared for receiving abstraction returns at the due time.  A phone call to head office to ask how it should be done; a promise to call back with an answer which never happened ... what is one supposed to do in the face of such bureaucratic inefficiency?

The dead-line for a return is threateningly stated to be 28 April, - just 2 weeks away.  What enforcement action could they impose I wonder.

Then, - oh the relief! - I found I could submit my return to the 'English' Environment Agency in the same way as I did last year.  Too bad that it has gone to the wrong agency.  Let them sort it out.  I beg to submit, your honour, that I did send my return in, on time, by the only way I found to be possible !