Paragraph 1
A person shall not—
place any solid matter in any watercourse or, save as permitted by any other statutory provision, cause, allow or suffer the discharge, flow or fall into any watercourse of any matter, whether solid or liquid, likely to render that watercourse, or any other watercourse, less effective for drainage purposes; or
do any act likely to impair the efficiency of any sea defences or sea defence works; or
subject to paragraphs 2 to 4, construct or reconstruct a bridge in or over any watercourse, or alter the waterway of any such bridge, except with the consent of the Ministry; or
so use any vehicle, machinery or implement as to break down or damage the bank or embankment of any watercourse or sea defences; or
subject to paragraphs 3 and 4, erect or place any structure in, over or under any watercourse, or carry out any work of alteration or repair on any structure in, over or under any watercourse, if the work is likely to—
affect the flow of water in the watercourse; or
impede any drainage work; or
prevent or impede the passage of fish; or
interfere with, or in any way hinder, the maintenance of the watercourse;
except with the consent in writing of the Ministry and, in any case where the Ministry so directs, in accordance with plans, sections and specifications approved by the Ministry; or
erect or alter any structure designed to contain or divert the waters ofF1 any designated watercourse, exceptF2 in accordance with regulations under Article 20 of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 or with the approval in writing of, and in accordance with plans, sections and specifications approved by, the Ministry; or
suffer any structure which is or has been erected, placed, raised, altered or repaired in contravention of any provision of sub-paragraph ( c), ( e) or ( f), or of section 30(1)( a) or 31(1) of the Drainage Act (Northern Ireland) 1947 1947 c.9 or section 10(1) or (2) of the Drainage Act (Northern Ireland) 1964, 1964 c.31 to remain, unless the Ministry is satisfied that, if an application for the Ministry's consent or approval with respect to the structure had been made under the provision in question, such consent or approval would have been forthcoming, and gives its consent in writing to the structure remaining.