Water Act 1989
1989 c. 15 · Enacted 6 July 1989 · Extends to United Kingdom
C1C2C3C4C5C6C7E1C8Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Contents
- Part I: Preliminary
- The National Rivers Authority and the advisory committees
- 1The National Rivers Authority.
- 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- The transfer of the water authorities’ functions etc.
- 4Transfer of the water authorities’ functions etc.
- The Director General of Water Services and the customer service committees
- 5The Director General of Water Services.
- 6Customer service committees.
- 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part II: Water Supply and Sewerage Services
- Chapter I: Appointment and Regulation of Water and Sewerage Undertakers
- Making and conditions of appointments
- 11Appointment of undertakers.
- 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 13Procedure for replacement appointments.
- 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Special administration orders
- 23Special administration orders in relation to water or sewerage undertakers.
- 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Chapter II
- 37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Chapter III: Provision of Sewerage Services
- 67. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 69Transfer of principal sewerage functions.
- 70Allocation of cross boundary sewers.
- 71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 73. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Chapter IV
- 75. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Chapter V: Ownership and Finances of Successor Companies etc.
- 83Initial Government holdings.
- 84Government financial assistance for companies wholly owned by the Crown.
- 85Transfer of successor company liabilities to holding companies.
- 86Conversion of certain loans.
- 87Government investment in securities of the nominated holding companies.
- 88Exercise of functions through nominees.
- 89Target investment limit for Government shareholding.
- 90Responsibility for listing particulars of nominated holding companies.
- 91Statutory accounts of the group.
- 92Temporary restrictions on borrowings etc. by the group.
- 93Reserves of the successor companies.
- 94Application of Trustee Investments Act 1961 in relation to investment in the nominated holding companies.
- 95Tax provisions.
- 96Interpretation of Chapter V.
- Chapter VI: Statutory Water Companies
- 97. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part III: The Protection and Management of Rivers and other Waters
- Chapter I: Control of Pollution
- General provisions
- 103. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Chapter II
- 125. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Chapter III: Flood Defence
- 136Flood defence functions of the Authority.
- 137Establishment of regional flood defence committees.
- 138. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 139Local flood defence schemes and local flood defence committees.
- 140. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Chapter IV: Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries
- 141Functions of the Authority in relation to fisheries.
- Chapter V: Navigation, Conservancy and Harbour Authority Functions
- 142Navigation, conservancy and harbour authority functions.
- Chapter VI
- 143. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part IV: Powers in Relation to Land and Works Powers etc.
- 151. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part V: Provisions relating to Scotland
- 168Water quality in Scotland.
- 169Control of water pollution in Scotland.
- Part VI: Misc1ellaneous and Supplemental
- 170. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Indemnities in respect of fluoridation
- 172Indemnities in respect of fluoridation.
- Payments to existing pension fund
- 173Payments to existing pension fund.
- Information etc.
- 174General restrictions on disclosure of information.
- 175Making of false statements etc.
- 176. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Offences
- 177Offences by bodies corporate.
- 178. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Financial provisions
- 183General financial provisions.
- 184Government guarantees.
- Subordinate legislation
- 185Powers to make regulations.
- 186. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Interpretation provisions
- 187Interpretation of references to the service of documents.
- 188. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 189General interpretation.
- Other supplemental provisions
- 190Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
- 191Local statutory provisions: consequential amendments etc.
- 192Application to Crown land etc.
- 193Application to Isles of Scilly.
- 194Short title, commencement and extent.
- Schedule 1: The National Rivers Authority
- Part I: Organisation and Proceedings etc. of Authority
- Membership
- 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
- The Parliamentary Commissioner
- 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
- The Local Commissioners
- 12Paragraph 12
- Parliamentary disqualification etc.
- 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
- Interpretation
- 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
- Part II
- 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
- Schedule 2: Schemes providing for the Initial Transfers
- Making and modification of schemes
- 1Paragraph 1
- Transfers by scheme
- 2Paragraph 2
- Supplemental provisions of schemes
- 3Paragraph 3
- Duties of water authorities after the scheme comes into force
- 4Paragraph 4
- Schedule 3: The Director General of Water Services
- 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
- The Parliamentary Commissioner
- 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
- Parliamentary disqualification etc.
- 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
- Schedule 4: Customer Service Committees
- 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
- Parliamentary disqualification etc.
- 6Paragraph 6
- Schedule 5: Transitional Provision on Termination of Appointments
- Cases where Schedule applies
- 1Paragraph 1
- Making and modification of transfer schemes
- 2Paragraph 2
- Transfers by scheme
- 3Paragraph 3
- Supplemental provisions of schemes
- 4Paragraph 4
- Duties of existing appointee after the scheme comes into force
- 5Paragraph 5
- Further transitional provision and local statutory provisions
- 6Paragraph 6
- Schedule 6: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Schedule 7: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Schedule 8: Sewerage Functions
- General
- 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
- The Public Health Act 1936 (c. 49)
- 2Paragraph 2
- The Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937 (c. 40)
- 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
- The Building Act 1984 (c. 55)
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- Schedule S 9—14: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Schedule 15: Amendments of the Land Drainage Act 1976
- General
- 1Paragraph 1
- Section 4 of the 1976 Act
- 2Paragraph 2
- Section 5 of the 1976 Act
- 3Paragraph 3
- Section 9 of the 1976 Act
- 4Paragraph 4
- Section 17 of the 1976 Act
- 5Paragraph 5
- Section 21 of the 1976 Act
- 6Paragraph 6
- Section 22 of the 1976 Act
- 7Paragraph 7
- Section 23 of the 1976 Act
- 8Paragraph 8
- Section 24 of the 1976 Act
- 9Paragraph 9
- Section 26 of the 1976 Act
- 10Paragraph 10
- Section 27 of the 1976 Act
- 11Paragraph 11
- Section 28 of the 1976 Act
- 12Paragraph 12
- Section 29 of the 1976 Act
- 13Paragraph 13
- Section 32 of the 1976 Act
- 14Paragraph 14
- Section 34 of the 1976 Act
- 15Paragraph 15
- Section 36 of the 1976 Act
- 16Paragraph 16
- Section 37 of the 1976 Act
- 17Paragraph 17
- Section 45 of the 1976 Act
- 18Paragraph 18
- Section 46 of the 1976 Act
- 19Paragraph 19
- Section 48 of the 1976 Act
- 20Paragraph 20
- Section 49 of the 1976 Act
- 21Paragraph 21
- Section 50 of the 1976 Act
- 22Paragraph 22
- Section 51 of the 1976 Act
- 23Paragraph 23
- Section 54 of the 1976 Act
- 24Paragraph 24
- Section 59 of the 1976 Act
- 25Paragraph 25
- Section 62 of the 1976 Act
- 26Paragraph 26
- Section 64 of the 1976 Act
- 27Paragraph 27
- Section 68 of the 1976 Act
- 28Paragraph 28
- Section 88 of the 1976 Act
- 29Paragraph 29
- Section 89 of the 1976 Act
- 30Paragraph 30
- Section 90 of the 1976 Act
- 31Paragraph 31
- Section 93 of the 1976 Act
- 32Paragraph 32
- Section 94 of the 1976 Act
- 33Paragraph 33
- Section 100 of the 1976 Act
- 34Paragraph 34
- Section 109 of the 1976 Act
- 35Paragraph 35
- Section 110 of the 1976 Act
- 36Paragraph 36
- Section 112 of the 1976 Act
- 37Paragraph 37
- Section 116 of the 1976 Act
- 38Paragraph 38
- Schedule 1 to the 1976 Act
- 39Paragraph 39
- Schedule 2 to the 1976 Act
- 40Paragraph 40
- Schedule 4 to the 1976 Act
- 41Paragraph 41
- Schedule 16: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Schedule 17: Transfer of Fisheries Functions to the Authority
- General modifications of references to water authorities
- 1Paragraph 1
- Power to amend subordinate legislation etc
- 2Paragraph 2
- The Diseases of Fish Act 1937 (c. 33)
- 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
- The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act 1951 (c. 26) Not yet in force
- 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
- The Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 (c. 38)
- 5Paragraph 5
- The Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (c. 84)
- 6Paragraph 6
- The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (c. 51)
- 7Paragraph 7
- The Diseases of Fish Act 1983 (c. 30)
- 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
- The Salmon Act 1986 (c. 62)
- 9Paragraph 9
- Schedule S 18—21: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Schedule 22: Water Quality in Scotland
- 1Paragraph 1
- Schedule 23: Control of Water Pollution in Scotland
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- Schedule 24: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Schedule 25: Minor and Consequential Amendments
- Adaptation of enactments relating to statutory undertakers etc.
- 1Paragraph 1
- Adaptation of enactments referring to the Drought Act 1976
- 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
- The Public Health Act 1875 (Support of Sewers) Amendment Act 1883 (c. 37)
- 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
- The Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897 (c. 38)
- 4Paragraph 4
- The Public Health Act 1936 (c. 49)
- 5Paragraph 5
- The Requisitioned Land and War Works Act 1948 (c. 17)
- 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
- The Requisitioned Land and War Works Act 1945 (c. 43)
- 8Paragraph 8
- The Fire Services Act 1947 (c. 41)
- 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
- 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
- The Coast Protection Act 1949 (c. 74)
- 11Paragraph 11
- The Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1949 (c. 75)
- 12Paragraph 12
- The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (c. 97)
- 13Paragraph 13
- 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
- The Border Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act 1951 (c. 7)
- 15Paragraph 15
- The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests)Act 1951 (c. 65)
- 16Paragraph 16
- The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Act 1951 (c. 66)
- 17Paragraph 17
- The Finance Act 1952 (c. 33)
- 18Paragraph 18
- The Town Development Act 1952 (c. 54)
- 19Paragraph 19
- The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953 (c. 26)
- 20Paragraph 20
- The Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act 1955 (c. 13)
- 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
- The Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956 (c. 60)
- 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
- The Coal-Mining (Subsidence) Act 1957 (c. 59)
- 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
- The Manoeuvres Act 1958 (c. 7)
- 24Paragraph 24
- The Finance Act 1958 (c. 56)
- 25Paragraph 25
- The Opencast Coal Act 1958 (c. 69)
- 26Paragraph 26
- The Radioactive Substances Act 1960 (c. 34)
- 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
- The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (c. 67)
- 28Paragraph 28
- The Trustee Investments Act 1961 (c. 62)
- 29Paragraph 29
- The Pipe-lines Act 1962 (c. 58)
- 30Paragraph 30
- The Harbours Act 1964 (c. 40)
- 31Paragraph 31
- The Gas Act 1965 (c. 36)
- 32Paragraph 32
- The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (c. 57)
- 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
- The Agriculture Act 1967 (c. 22)
- 34Paragraph 34
- The Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (c. 88)
- 35Paragraph 35
- The Capital Allowances Act 1968 (c. 3)
- 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
- The Countryside Act 1968 (c. 41)
- 37Paragraph 37
- The Transport Act 1968 (c. 73)
- 38Paragraph 38
- The Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48)
- 39Paragraph 39 Repealed
- The Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 (c. 39)
- 40Paragraph 40 Repealed
- The Agriculture Act 1970 (c. 40)
- 41Paragraph 41
- The Town and Country Planning Act 1971 (c. 78)
- 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
- The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70)
- 43Paragraph 43
- The Land Compensation Act 1973 (c. 26)
- 44Paragraph 44
- The Fair Trading Act 1973 (c. 41)
- 45Paragraph 45
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37)
- 46Paragraph 46
- The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c. 39)
- 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
- The Control of Pollution Act 1974 (c. 40)
- 48Paragraph 48
- The Reservoirs Act 1975 (c. 23)
- 49Paragraph 49
- The Coal Industry Act 1975 (c. 56)
- 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
- The Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 (c. 70)
- 51Paragraph 51
- The Local Land Charges Act 1975 (c. 76)
- 52Paragraph 52
- The Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 (c. 34)
- 53Paragraph 53
- The Development of Rural Wales Act 1976 (c. 75)
- 54Paragraph 54 Repealed
- The Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)
- 55Paragraph 55
- The Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (c. 44)
- 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
- The Estate Agents Act 1979 (c. 38)
- 57Paragraph 57 Repealed
- The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (c. 46)
- 58Paragraph 58
- The Competition Act 1980 (c. 21)
- 59Paragraph 59
- The Water (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 45)
- 60Paragraph 60
- The Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65)
- 61Paragraph 61
- The Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
- 62Paragraph 62
- The Water Act 1981 (c. 12)
- 63Paragraph 63 Repealed
- The New Towns Act 1981 (c. 64)
- 64Paragraph 64
- The Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67)
- 65Paragraph 65
- The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69)
- 66Paragraph 66
- The Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16)
- 67Paragraph 67
- The Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12)
- 68Paragraph 68
- The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27)
- 69Paragraph 69
- The Building Act 1984 (c. 55)
- 70Paragraph 70
- The Companies Act 1985 (c. 6)
- 71Paragraph 71
- The Business Names Act 1985 (c. 7)
- 72Paragraph 72 Repealed
- The Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985 (c. 63)
- 73Paragraph 73 Repealed
- The Housing Act 1985 (c. 68)
- 74Paragraph 74
- The Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (c. 5)
- 75Paragraph 75
- The Airports Act 1986 (c. 31)
- 76Paragraph 76
- The Gas Act 1986 (c. 44)
- 77Paragraph 77
- The Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45)
- 78Paragraph 78
- The Local Government Act 1988 (c. 9)
- 79Paragraph 79
- The Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41)
- 80Paragraph 80
- Schedule 26: Transitional Provisions and Savings
- Part I: Water Authorities
- Water authority members
- 1Paragraph 1
- Pensions etc.
- 2Paragraph 2
- The Local Government Act 1974 (c. 7)
- 3Paragraph 3
- Part II: Water and Sewerage Services
- Arrangements with statutory water companies
- 4Paragraph 4
- Agreements for water supply in bulk
- 5Paragraph 5
- Water main requisitions
- 6Paragraph 6
- Domestic connections
- 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
- Non-domestic supplies
- 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
- 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
- Sewerage functions under the Public Health Acts
- 13Paragraph 13
- Sewer requisitions
- 14Paragraph 14
- Arrangements for carrying out sewerage functions
- 15Paragraph 15
- Water charges etc.
- 16Paragraph 16
- Joint water boards and joint water committees
- 17Paragraph 17
- 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
- The Building Act 1984 (c. 55)
- 20Paragraph 20
- Part III: Control of Pollution
- 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
- Byelaws
- 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
- 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
- Part IV: Water Resources
- General transitional provision
- 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
- 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
- 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
- Part V: Flood Defence
- General
- 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
- Part VI: Fisheries
- 40Paragraph 40
- Part VII: Compulsory Purchase and Works Powers
- Compulsory purchase orders and works orders
- 41Paragraph 41
- 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
- The Public Health Act 1875 (Support of Sewers) Amendment Act 1883 (c. 37)
- 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
- Maps of sewers etc.
- 47Paragraph 47
- Part VIII: Miscellaneous and General
- Notifications by Nature Conservancy Council etc.
- 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
- Recreational activities
- 49Paragraph 49
- Overseas activities
- 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
- Arrangements with local authorities
- 51Paragraph 51
- Treasury guarantees
- 52Paragraph 52
- Enactments applying particular provisions of Schedule 3 to the 1945 Act
- 53Paragraph 53
- Local statutory provisions
- 54Paragraph 54
- The Town and Country Planning Act 1959 (c. 53)
- 55Paragraph 55
- Transitory provision relating to rating
- 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
- Byelaws
- 57Paragraph 57
- Saving for criminal liability of water authorities
- 58Paragraph 58
- Periods of time
- 59Paragraph 59
- Schedule 27: Repeals
- IRepeals Coming into Force on the Transfer Date
- IIOther Repeals