{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/countryside-act-1968/section-38",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/countryside-act-1968/section-38.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1968/41",
  "legislation_title": "Countryside Act 1968",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/countryside-act-1968",
  "path": "section/38",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "38",
  "heading": "Avoidance of pollution.",
  "text": "In the exercise of their functions under this Act and the Act of 1949 it shall be the duty of Natural England , the NRBW , the Forestry Agency and local authorities to have due regard to the protection against pollution of any water, whether on the surface or underground, which belongs to the Environment Agency, the NRBW or a water undertaker or which the Agency, the NRBW or a water undertaker is for the time being authorised to take.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 38 substituted (1.10.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), s. 107, Sch. 11 para. 52; S.I. 2006/2541, art. 2 (with Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 38 inserted (1. 4. 1991) by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43, SIF 46:4), s. 130, Sch. 8 para. 2(9); S.I. 1991/685, art. 3."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in s. 38 substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 101(2) (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 38 substituted (20.2.1999) by S.I. 1999/416, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 4(5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 38 substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 101(3) (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 38 extended (E.W.)(19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 65(2), 125(2)(with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)S. 38 applied (1.4.2001 for E. and 1.5.2001 for W.) by 2000 c. 37, s. 87(3); S.I. 2001/114, art. 2(2)(e); S.I. 2001/1410, art. 2(g)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/41/section/38",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:54:08.337160+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}