{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-abstraction-and-impoundment-licensing-regulations-northern-ireland-2006/regulation-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-abstraction-and-impoundment-licensing-regulations-northern-ireland-2006/regulation-27.json",
  "legislation": "nisr/2006/482",
  "legislation_title": "Water Abstraction and Impoundment (Licensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-abstraction-and-impoundment-licensing-regulations-northern-ireland-2006",
  "path": "regulation/27",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Defence to principal offences in respect of authorised activities",
  "text": "A person shall not be guilty of an offence under regulation 25(1)(a), (b), or (e) where the contravention is a result of—\n(a) an accident which could not reasonably have been foreseen; or\n(b) natural causes which are exceptional and could not reasonably have been foreseen,\nprovided that—\n(i) all practicable steps are taken to prevent deterioration of the water environment;\n(ii) all practicable steps are taken as soon as is reasonably practicable to restore the water environment to its condition prior to the contravention; and\n(iii) particulars of the contravention are furnished to the Department as soon as is reasonably practicable. .",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Reg. 27 in operation at 1.2.2007, see reg. 1"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/482/regulation/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T01:44:02.886135+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."
}