OpenLegislation

Water Act 1989 in Scotland

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. Part III: The Protection and Management of Rivers and other Waters
  30. General provisions
  31. 125—135. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  32. Chapter III: Flood Defence
  33. 136Flood defence functions of the Authority.
  34. 137Establishment of regional flood defence committees.
  35. 139Local flood defence schemes and local flood defence committees.
  36. Chapter IV: Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries
  37. 141Functions of the Authority in relation to fisheries.
  38. 142Navigation, conservancy and harbour authority functions.
  39. 143—150. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  40. 151—167. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  41. Part V: Provisions relating to Scotland
  42. 168Water quality in Scotland.
  43. 169Control of water pollution in Scotland.
  44. Part VI: Misc1ellaneous and Supplemental
  45. Indemnities in respect of fluoridation
  46. 172Indemnities in respect of fluoridation.
  47. 173Payments to existing pension fund.
  48. 175Making of false statements etc.
  49. 176. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 177Offences by bodies corporate.
  51. 183General financial provisions.
  52. 184Government guarantees.
  53. 186. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  54. 187Interpretation of references to the service of documents.
  55. 188. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  56. Other supplemental provisions
  57. 190Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
  58. 194Short title, commencement and extent.
  59. Schedule 1: The National Rivers Authority
  60. Part I: Organisation and Proceedings etc. of Authority
  61. 1—10Paragraph 1—10 Repealed
  62. The Parliamentary Commissioner
  63. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  64. Parliamentary disqualification etc.
  65. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  66. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  67. 15—23Paragraph 15—23 Repealed
  68. Schedule 2: Schemes providing for the Initial Transfers
  69. Making and modification of schemes
  70. 1Paragraph 1
  71. Transfers by scheme
  72. 2Paragraph 2
  73. Supplemental provisions of schemes
  74. 3Paragraph 3
  75. Duties of water authorities after the scheme comes into force
  76. 4Paragraph 4
  77. Schedule 3: The Director General of Water Services
  78. 1—5Paragraph 1—5 Repealed
  79. The Parliamentary Commissioner
  80. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  81. Parliamentary disqualification etc.
  82. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  83. Schedule 4: Customer Service Committees
  84. 1—5Paragraph 1—5 Repealed
  85. Parliamentary disqualification etc.
  86. 6Paragraph 6
  87. Schedule 5: Transitional Provision on Termination of Appointments
  88. Cases where Schedule applies
  89. 1Paragraph 1
  90. Making and modification of transfer schemes
  91. 2Paragraph 2
  92. Transfers by scheme
  93. 3Paragraph 3
  94. Supplemental provisions of schemes
  95. 4Paragraph 4
  96. Duties of existing appointee after the scheme comes into force
  97. 5Paragraph 5
  98. Further transitional provision and local statutory provisions
  99. 6Paragraph 6
  100. General
  101. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  102. The Public Health Act 1936 (c. 49)
  103. 2Paragraph 2
  104. The Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937 (c. 40)
  105. 3—5Paragraph 3—5 Repealed
  106. The Building Act 1984 (c. 55)
  107. 6Paragraph 6
  108. 7Paragraph 7
  109. Schedule 15: Amendments of the Land Drainage Act 1976
  110. 1Paragraph 1
  111. 2Paragraph 2
  112. 3Paragraph 3
  113. 4Paragraph 4
  114. 5Paragraph 5
  115. 6Paragraph 6
  116. 7Paragraph 7
  117. 8Paragraph 8
  118. 9Paragraph 9
  119. 10Paragraph 10
  120. 11Paragraph 11
  121. 12Paragraph 12
  122. 13Paragraph 13
  123. Section 32 of the 1976 Act
  124. 14Paragraph 14
  125. 15Paragraph 15
  126. 16Paragraph 16
  127. 17Paragraph 17
  128. 18Paragraph 18
  129. 19Paragraph 19
  130. 20Paragraph 20
  131. 21Paragraph 21
  132. 22Paragraph 22
  133. 23Paragraph 23
  134. 24Paragraph 24
  135. 25Paragraph 25
  136. 26Paragraph 26
  137. 27Paragraph 27
  138. 28Paragraph 28
  139. 29Paragraph 29
  140. 30Paragraph 30
  141. 31Paragraph 31
  142. 32Paragraph 32
  143. 33Paragraph 33
  144. 34Paragraph 34
  145. 35Paragraph 35
  146. 36Paragraph 36
  147. 37Paragraph 37
  148. 38Paragraph 38
  149. 39Paragraph 39
  150. 40Paragraph 40
  151. 41Paragraph 41
  152. Schedule 17: Transfer of Fisheries Functions to the Authority
  153. General modifications of references to water authorities
  154. 1Paragraph 1
  155. Power to amend subordinate legislation etc
  156. 2Paragraph 2
  157. The Diseases of Fish Act 1937 (c. 33)
  158. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  159. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act 1951 (c. 26) Not yet in force
  160. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  161. The Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 (c. 38)
  162. 5Paragraph 5
  163. The Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (c. 84)
  164. 6Paragraph 6
  165. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (c. 51)
  166. 7Paragraph 7
  167. The Diseases of Fish Act 1983 (c. 30)
  168. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  169. The Salmon Act 1986 (c. 62)
  170. 9Paragraph 9
  171. 1Paragraph 1
  172. 1Paragraph 1
  173. 5Paragraph 5
  174. 6Paragraph 6
  175. 7Paragraph 7
  176. 8Paragraph 8
  177. Schedule 25: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  178. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  179. The Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897 (c. 38)
  180. 4Paragraph 4
  181. 5Paragraph 5
  182. 6,7Paragraph 6,7 Repealed
  183. 8Paragraph 8
  184. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  185. 11Paragraph 11
  186. The Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1949 (c. 75)
  187. 12Paragraph 12
  188. 13Paragraph 13
  189. 15Paragraph 15
  190. 16Paragraph 16
  191. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Act 1951 (c. 66)
  192. 17Paragraph 17
  193. 18Paragraph 18
  194. 19Paragraph 19
  195. 20Paragraph 20
  196. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  197. The Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956 (c. 60)
  198. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  199. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  200. 24Paragraph 24
  201. 25Paragraph 25
  202. 28Paragraph 28
  203. 29Paragraph 29
  204. 30Paragraph 30
  205. 31Paragraph 31
  206. The Gas Act 1965 (c. 36)
  207. 32Paragraph 32
  208. 34Paragraph 34
  209. 35Paragraph 35
  210. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  211. 37Paragraph 37
  212. 38Paragraph 38
  213. 40Paragraph 40 Repealed
  214. The Agriculture Act 1970 (c. 40)
  215. 41Paragraph 41
  216. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  217. 44Paragraph 44
  218. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37)
  219. 46Paragraph 46
  220. 49Paragraph 49
  221. 51Paragraph 51
  222. 52Paragraph 52
  223. 53Paragraph 53
  224. 55Paragraph 55
  225. The Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (c. 44)
  226. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  227. 58Paragraph 58
  228. The Water (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 45)
  229. 60Paragraph 60
  230. 62Paragraph 62
  231. 63Paragraph 63 Repealed
  232. 64Paragraph 64
  233. 65Paragraph 65
  234. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69)
  235. 66Paragraph 66
  236. 67Paragraph 67
  237. 69Paragraph 69
  238. 70Paragraph 70
  239. 72Paragraph 72 Repealed
  240. 73Paragraph 73 Repealed
  241. 74Paragraph 74
  242. 75Paragraph 75
  243. 77Paragraph 77
  244. 78Paragraph 78
  245. 79Paragraph 79
  246. 80Paragraph 80
  247. Part I: Water Authorities
  248. Water authority members
  249. 1Paragraph 1
  250. Pensions etc.
  251. 2Paragraph 2
  252. The Local Government Act 1974 (c. 7)
  253. 3Paragraph 3
  254. Part II: Water and Sewerage Services
  255. Arrangements with statutory water companies
  256. 4Paragraph 4
  257. Agreements for water supply in bulk
  258. 5Paragraph 5
  259. Water main requisitions
  260. 6Paragraph 6
  261. Domestic connections
  262. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  263. Non-domestic supplies
  264. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  266. 9—12Paragraph 9—12 Repealed
  267. Sewerage functions under the Public Health Acts
  268. 13Paragraph 13
  269. Sewer requisitions
  270. 14Paragraph 14
  271. Arrangements for carrying out sewerage functions
  272. 15Paragraph 15
  273. Water charges etc.
  274. 16Paragraph 16
  275. Joint water boards and joint water committees
  276. 17Paragraph 17
  278. 18, 19Paragraph 18, 19 Repealed
  279. The Building Act 1984 (c. 55)
  280. 20Paragraph 20
  281. Part III: Control of Pollution
  283. 21—25Paragraph 21—25 Repealed
  284. Byelaws
  285. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  287. 27, 28Paragraph 27, 28 Repealed
  288. Part IV: Water Resources
  289. General transitional provision
  290. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  292. 30,31Paragraph 30,31 Repealed
  294. 32—35Paragraph 32—35 Repealed
  295. Part V: Flood Defence
  296. General
  297. 36—39Paragraph 36—39 Repealed
  298. Part VI: Fisheries
  299. 40Paragraph 40
  300. Part VII: Compulsory Purchase and Works Powers
  301. Compulsory purchase orders and works orders
  302. 41Paragraph 41
  304. 42—45Paragraph 42—45 Repealed
  305. The Public Health Act 1875 (Support of Sewers) Amendment Act 1883 (c. 37)
  306. Maps of sewers etc.
  307. 47Paragraph 47
  308. Part VIII: Miscellaneous and General
  309. Notifications by Nature Conservancy Council etc.
  310. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  311. Recreational activities
  312. 49Paragraph 49
  313. Overseas activities
  314. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  315. Arrangements with local authorities
  316. 51Paragraph 51
  317. Treasury guarantees
  318. 52Paragraph 52
  319. Enactments applying particular provisions of Schedule 3 to the 1945 Act
  320. 53Paragraph 53
  321. Local statutory provisions
  322. 54Paragraph 54
  323. The Town and Country Planning Act 1959 (c. 53)
  324. 55Paragraph 55
  325. Transitory provision relating to rating
  326. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  327. Byelaws
  328. 57Paragraph 57
  329. Saving for criminal liability of water authorities
  330. 58Paragraph 58
  331. Periods of time
  332. 59Paragraph 59
  333. Schedule 27: Repeals
  334. IRepeals Coming into Force on the Transfer Date
  335. IIOther Repeals