What is GOR?
GOR enables you to submit your water abstraction returns using an online facility. If you have internet access and an e mail account you will be able to submit your returns in one of three ways.
- By manual data entry using the GOR web site. GOR offers web entry screens which can be tailored around your licences.
- By Excel spreadsheet upload using the GOR web site. You will be able to download and use the new GOR compatible spreadsheet from our website, populate with your returns information and then upload through the GOR website.
- If you have a large amount of data to upload, there is an ‘xml schema’ facility available through the GOR web site. This is a format used for very large data uploads and will appeal to bigger companies with existing internal IT reporting systems. If you want to use this option, we will supply you with the information to configure your export file.
Can I change the way I submit my return year by year?
Yes. So for example you may wish to start off by manually entering data and over time switch to the Excel spreadsheet option.
Why should I use GOR?
We will be encouraging all our licence holders to use GOR. It has been designed as a more convenient way for you to submit your returns which saves both you and us time and money in managing returns. Over time our aim is also to significantly reduce the number of paper return forms we have to print.
GOR will provide you with one access point to allow you to see and submit returns for all of your abstraction licences, ultimately from the same login and internet session. We are providing easy to use data input screens and specially formatted spreadsheets that are auto-populated with your abstraction licence details so all you need to do is fill in the details of your actual abstracted quantities and then submit to us. This should make is simpler, easier and quicker for you to submit your returns.
It will also help us improve the quality of the data which we use to support the management of water resources in England & Wales.
Can I use GOR if I do not have an email address?
No. GOR needs an email address. You will need to set up your own email account to use GOR. We will still provide paper forms, which can be submitted to our National Operator Returns team, Environment Agency, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield. S9 4WF.
Who do I contact if I have any difficulties submitting my returns online?
We will provide you with step by step instructions on how to use GOR with your login and password to help you. You will also find lots of useful information and guidance on our website and GOR also has lots of online hints and tips you can use as you complete your returns.
For further support you can contact our National Customer Contact Centre on 0370 8506506 or email us. Our team will help with your query to enable you to complete and submit your return using GOR.
How do I obtain a GOR username and password?
We will write to the named licence holder to tell them their GOR username. The password will then be sent separately, again to the named licence holder. The username and password are sent separately for security reasons.
When you first use the system, you will be prompted to change your password to something personally more memorable.
We will group licence holders with multiple licences so where possible only one set of account details is needed. Initially though accounts will be grouped by licence holder and Environment Agency region. So if you have licences in two or more Agency regions you will receive two or more accounts.
What do I do if I’ve lost my login or need my password reset?
You will need to contact our National Customer Contact Centre on 0370 8506506.
Can I save my work or do I need to enter data and submit in one go?
If you choose to enter your returns directly to the GOR web site you can save your work as you go along, and then either submit at the end, or come back to retrieve your return and submit at a later date.
If you use the bulk upload options you can still save your work as you go along and then upload the information via the GOR web site when complete.
Will I get told if I have any problems with the data I have entered?
When you either save or submit, GOR will validate the answers you have given. If any mandatory questions (marked by an * to the right of the question) have not been answered, you will receive an ‘error’ message and that question will be highlighted in red. You will need to have answered all mandatory questions to be able to submit your return through GOR.
When GOR validates your answers, there may be some data problems. These will be highlighted in amber, as a ‘warning’ message. GOR will have saved your data, but you will have the opportunity to either correct or ignore these warnings, and then submit your return again. GOR will accept this second submission.
If you upload your return and we encounter any queries with the data you have submitted to us, you will be advised via email.
GOR will not check returns for compliance with an abstraction licence. Compliance checking will be undertaken by a specialist team once the information has been submitted.
