OpenLegislation

Water Act 1989 in Northern Ireland

1989 c. 15 · Enacted 6 July 1989 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 6 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 6 April 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 25 para. 1(2)(xx)omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 220(a)
Sch. 25 para. 1(2A)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 220(b)
Sch. 25 para. 1(10)(v)omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 220(c)
Sch. 25 para. 19repealedLocal Government and Housing Act 1989 Sch. 12 Pt. 2
Sch. 25 para. 80(2)words repealedLocal Government and Housing Act 1989 Sch. 12 Pt. 2
Sch. 25 para. 48(1)-(6)repealedEnvironmental Protection Act 1990 Sch. 16 Pt. 2

An Act to provide for the establishment and functions of a National Rivers Authority and of committees to advise that Authority; to provide for the transfer of the property, rights and liabilities of water authorities to the National Rivers Authority and to companies nominated by the Secretary of State and for the dissolution of those authorities; to provide for the appointment and functions of a Director General of Water Services and of customer service committees; to provide for companies to be appointed to be water undertakers and sewerage undertakers and for the regulation of the appointed companies; to make provision with respect to, and the finances of, the nominated companies, holding companies of the nominated companies and statutory water companies; to amend the law relating to the supply of water and the law relating to the provision of sewers and the treatment and disposal of sewage; to amend the law with respect to the pollution of water and the law with respect to its abstraction from inland waters and underground strata; to make new provision in relation to flood defence and fisheries; to transfer functions with respect to navigation, conservancy and harbours to the National Rivers Authority; and for connected purposes.

[6th July 1989]

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:—

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: Power to apply (Isles of Scilly) conferred by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), s. 222(3) (with ss. 82(3), 186(1), 222(1), Sch. 13 paras. 1, 2, Sch. 14 para. 6).

C2

Act: Power to apply (Isles of Scilly) conferred by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), s. 224(3) (with ss. 16(6), 179, 222(3), 224(1), Sch. 22 paras. 1, 2, Sch. 23 para. 6).

C3

Act: Power to apply (Isles of Scilly) conferred by Land Drainage Act 1991 (c. 59, SIF 73:1), s. 75(3) (with ss. 67(3)(5)(8), 72(6)(8), 74(3)(4)).

C4

Act excluded by S.I. 1989/1161, reg. 3.

C5

Act excluded (E.W.) by Statutory Water Companies Act 1991 (c. 58, SIF 130), s. 11(2).

C6

Act restricted (E.W.) by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), ss. 15(2)(a), 18(2) (with ss. 16(6), 178, 179, 222(3), 224(1), Sch. 22 paras. 1, 2, 4, Sch. 23 para. 6).

C7

Act applied by Water Resources Act 1991 (c.57, SIF 130), s.103, Sch. 13 para. 4(6) (with ss. 16(6), 178, 179, 222(3), 224(1), Sch. 22 paras. 1, 2, Sch. 23 para. 6).

C8

Act saved (26.06.1991) by S.I. 1991/1619, art.12.

Extent

E1

Act extends to England and Wales but subject to provisions in s. 194(6)-(9).

Contents

  1. Part I: Preliminary
  2. 1The National Rivers Authority.
  3. 2, 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  4. The transfer of the water authorities’ functions etc.
  5. 4Transfer of the water authorities’ functions etc.
  6. 5The Director General of Water Services.
  7. 6Customer service committees.
  8. 7—10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  9. Part II: Water Supply and Sewerage Services
  10. Chapter I: Appointment and Regulation of Water and Sewerage Undertakers
  11. Making and conditions of appointments
  12. 11Appointment of undertakers.
  13. 13Procedure for replacement appointments.
  14. Special administration orders
  15. 23Special administration orders in relation to water or sewerage undertakers.
  16. 31—36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  17. Chapter II
  18. 37—66. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  19. 67—68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  20. 69Transfer of principal sewerage functions.
  21. 70Allocation of cross boundary sewers.
  22. 71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. 72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  24. 73, 74. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  25. 75—82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  26. Chapter V: Ownership and Finances of Successor Companies etc.
  27. 95Tax provisions.
  28. 97—102. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  29. General provisions
  30. 125—135. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  31. Chapter III: Flood Defence
  32. 137Establishment of regional flood defence committees.
  33. 139Local flood defence schemes and local flood defence committees.
  34. Chapter IV: Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries
  35. 142Navigation, conservancy and harbour authority functions.
  36. 143—150. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  37. 151—167. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  38. 168Water quality in Scotland.
  39. 169Control of water pollution in Scotland.
  40. Indemnities in respect of fluoridation
  41. 172Indemnities in respect of fluoridation.
  42. 173Payments to existing pension fund.
  43. 175Making of false statements etc.
  44. 176. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  45. 177Offences by bodies corporate.
  46. 183General financial provisions.
  47. 184Government guarantees.
  48. 186. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  49. 187Interpretation of references to the service of documents.
  50. 188. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  51. 190Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
  52. 194Short title, commencement and extent.
  53. Schedule 1: The National Rivers Authority
  54. Part I: Organisation and Proceedings etc. of Authority
  55. 1—10Paragraph 1—10 Repealed
  56. The Parliamentary Commissioner
  57. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  58. Parliamentary disqualification etc.
  59. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  60. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  61. 15—23Paragraph 15—23 Repealed
  62. Schedule 2: Schemes providing for the Initial Transfers
  63. Making and modification of schemes
  64. 1Paragraph 1
  65. Transfers by scheme
  66. 2Paragraph 2
  67. Supplemental provisions of schemes
  68. 3Paragraph 3
  69. Duties of water authorities after the scheme comes into force
  70. 4Paragraph 4
  71. Schedule 3: The Director General of Water Services
  72. 1—5Paragraph 1—5 Repealed
  73. The Parliamentary Commissioner
  74. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  75. Parliamentary disqualification etc.
  76. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  77. Schedule 4: Customer Service Committees
  78. 1—5Paragraph 1—5 Repealed
  79. Parliamentary disqualification etc.
  80. 6Paragraph 6
  81. Schedule 5: Transitional Provision on Termination of Appointments
  82. Cases where Schedule applies
  83. 1Paragraph 1
  84. Making and modification of transfer schemes
  85. 2Paragraph 2
  86. Transfers by scheme
  87. 3Paragraph 3
  88. Supplemental provisions of schemes
  89. 4Paragraph 4
  90. Duties of existing appointee after the scheme comes into force
  91. 5Paragraph 5
  92. Further transitional provision and local statutory provisions
  93. 6Paragraph 6
  94. General
  95. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  96. The Public Health Act 1936 (c. 49)
  97. 2Paragraph 2
  98. The Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937 (c. 40)
  99. 3—5Paragraph 3—5 Repealed
  100. The Building Act 1984 (c. 55)
  101. 6Paragraph 6
  102. 7Paragraph 7
  103. 1Paragraph 1
  104. 2Paragraph 2
  105. 3Paragraph 3
  106. 4Paragraph 4
  107. 5Paragraph 5
  108. 6Paragraph 6
  109. 7Paragraph 7
  110. 8Paragraph 8
  111. 9Paragraph 9
  112. 10Paragraph 10
  113. 11Paragraph 11
  114. 12Paragraph 12
  115. 13Paragraph 13
  116. Section 32 of the 1976 Act
  117. 14Paragraph 14
  118. 15Paragraph 15
  119. 16Paragraph 16
  120. 17Paragraph 17
  121. 18Paragraph 18
  122. 19Paragraph 19
  123. 20Paragraph 20
  124. 21Paragraph 21
  125. 22Paragraph 22
  126. 23Paragraph 23
  127. 24Paragraph 24
  128. 25Paragraph 25
  129. 26Paragraph 26
  130. 27Paragraph 27
  131. 28Paragraph 28
  132. 29Paragraph 29
  133. 30Paragraph 30
  134. 31Paragraph 31
  135. 32Paragraph 32
  136. 33Paragraph 33
  137. 34Paragraph 34
  138. 35Paragraph 35
  139. 36Paragraph 36
  140. 37Paragraph 37
  141. 38Paragraph 38
  142. 39Paragraph 39
  143. 40Paragraph 40
  144. 41Paragraph 41
  145. General modifications of references to water authorities
  146. Power to amend subordinate legislation etc
  147. 2Paragraph 2
  148. The Diseases of Fish Act 1937 (c. 33)
  149. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act 1951 (c. 26) Not yet in force
  150. The Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 (c. 38)
  151. The Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (c. 84)
  152. 6Paragraph 6
  153. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (c. 51)
  154. The Diseases of Fish Act 1983 (c. 30)
  155. The Salmon Act 1986 (c. 62)
  156. 1Paragraph 1
  157. 1Paragraph 1
  158. 5Paragraph 5
  159. 6Paragraph 6
  160. 7Paragraph 7
  161. 8Paragraph 8
  162. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  163. 4Paragraph 4
  164. 5Paragraph 5
  165. 6,7Paragraph 6,7 Repealed
  166. 8Paragraph 8
  167. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  168. 11Paragraph 11
  169. 12Paragraph 12
  170. 13Paragraph 13
  171. 15Paragraph 15
  172. 16Paragraph 16
  173. 17Paragraph 17
  174. 18Paragraph 18
  175. 19Paragraph 19
  176. 20Paragraph 20
  177. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  178. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  179. 24Paragraph 24
  180. 25Paragraph 25
  181. 28Paragraph 28
  182. 29Paragraph 29
  183. 30Paragraph 30
  184. 31Paragraph 31
  185. The Gas Act 1965 (c. 36)
  186. 32Paragraph 32
  187. 34Paragraph 34
  188. 35Paragraph 35
  189. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  190. 37Paragraph 37
  191. 38Paragraph 38
  192. 40Paragraph 40 Repealed
  193. The Agriculture Act 1970 (c. 40)
  194. 41Paragraph 41
  195. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  196. 44Paragraph 44
  197. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37)
  198. 46Paragraph 46
  199. 49Paragraph 49
  200. 51Paragraph 51
  201. 52Paragraph 52
  202. 53Paragraph 53
  203. 55Paragraph 55
  204. 58Paragraph 58
  205. 62Paragraph 62
  206. 63Paragraph 63 Repealed
  207. 64Paragraph 64
  208. 65Paragraph 65
  209. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69)
  210. 66Paragraph 66
  211. 67Paragraph 67
  212. 69Paragraph 69
  213. 70Paragraph 70
  214. 72Paragraph 72 Repealed
  215. 73Paragraph 73 Repealed
  216. 74Paragraph 74
  217. 75Paragraph 75
  218. 77Paragraph 77
  219. 78Paragraph 78
  220. 79Paragraph 79
  221. 80Paragraph 80
  222. Part I: Water Authorities
  223. Water authority members
  224. 1Paragraph 1
  225. Pensions etc.
  226. 2Paragraph 2
  227. The Local Government Act 1974 (c. 7)
  228. 3Paragraph 3
  229. Part II: Water and Sewerage Services
  230. Arrangements with statutory water companies
  231. 4Paragraph 4
  232. Agreements for water supply in bulk
  233. 5Paragraph 5
  234. Water main requisitions
  235. 6Paragraph 6
  236. Domestic connections
  237. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  238. Non-domestic supplies
  239. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  241. 9—12Paragraph 9—12 Repealed
  242. Sewerage functions under the Public Health Acts
  243. 13Paragraph 13
  244. Sewer requisitions
  245. 14Paragraph 14
  246. Arrangements for carrying out sewerage functions
  247. 15Paragraph 15
  248. Water charges etc.
  249. 16Paragraph 16
  250. Joint water boards and joint water committees
  251. 17Paragraph 17
  253. 18, 19Paragraph 18, 19 Repealed
  254. The Building Act 1984 (c. 55)
  255. 20Paragraph 20
  256. Part III: Control of Pollution
  258. 21—25Paragraph 21—25 Repealed
  259. Byelaws
  260. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  262. 27, 28Paragraph 27, 28 Repealed
  263. Part IV: Water Resources
  264. General transitional provision
  265. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  267. 30,31Paragraph 30,31 Repealed
  269. 32—35Paragraph 32—35 Repealed
  270. Part V: Flood Defence
  271. General
  272. 36—39Paragraph 36—39 Repealed
  273. Part VI: Fisheries
  274. 40Paragraph 40
  275. Part VII: Compulsory Purchase and Works Powers
  276. Compulsory purchase orders and works orders
  277. 41Paragraph 41
  279. 42—45Paragraph 42—45 Repealed
  280. The Public Health Act 1875 (Support of Sewers) Amendment Act 1883 (c. 37)
  281. Maps of sewers etc.
  282. 47Paragraph 47
  283. Part VIII: Miscellaneous and General
  284. Notifications by Nature Conservancy Council etc.
  285. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  286. Recreational activities
  287. 49Paragraph 49
  288. Overseas activities
  289. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  290. Arrangements with local authorities
  291. 51Paragraph 51
  292. Treasury guarantees
  293. 52Paragraph 52
  294. Enactments applying particular provisions of Schedule 3 to the 1945 Act
  295. 53Paragraph 53
  296. Local statutory provisions
  297. 54Paragraph 54
  298. The Town and Country Planning Act 1959 (c. 53)
  299. 55Paragraph 55
  300. Transitory provision relating to rating
  301. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  302. Byelaws
  303. 57Paragraph 57
  304. Saving for criminal liability of water authorities
  305. 58Paragraph 58
  306. Periods of time
  307. 59Paragraph 59
  308. Schedule 27: Repeals
  309. IRepeals Coming into Force on the Transfer Date
  310. IIOther Repeals