OpenLegislation

Water Act 2003

2003 c. 37 · Enacted 20 November 2003 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 10 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 9 January 2022.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 83(2)(f)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 342
s. 52(3)(a)words substitutedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 133(2)(a)
s. 52(3)(b)words substitutedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 133(2)(b)
s. 52(3)(c)words substitutedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 133(2)(c)
s. 52(9)insertedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 133(3)
s. 40repealedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 132
s. 58(2)words substitutedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 134(2)(b)
s. 58(6)words substitutedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 134(3)(a)
s. 58(6)words substitutedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 134(3)(b)
s. 58(2)words substitutedWater Act 2014 Sch. 7 para. 134(2)(a)
An Act to amend the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Water Industry Act 1991; to make provision with respect to compensation under section 61 of the Water Resources Act 1991; to provide for the establishment and functions of the Water Services Regulation Authority and the Consumer Council for Water, and for the abolition of the office of Director General of Water Services; to make provision in connection with land drainage and flood defence; to amend the Reservoirs Act 1975; to make provision about contaminated land so far as it relates to the pollution of controlled waters; to confer on the Coal Authority functions in relation to the discharge of water from coal mines; to extend the functions of the Environment Agency in relation to the Rivers Esk, Sark and Tweed and their tributaries so far as they are in England; to repeal section 1 of the Metropolis Water Act 1852; and for connected purposes.[20th November 2003]

Be 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

  1. Part 1: Abstraction and impounding
  2. Restrictions on abstraction and impounding
  3. 1Licences to abstract water
  4. 2Restrictions on impounding
  5. 3Existing impounding works
  6. 4Existing impounding works: works notices
  7. 5Rights of navigation, harbour and conservancy authorities
  8. 6Rights to abstract small quantities
  9. 7Rights to abstract for drainage purposes, etc
  10. 8Amendments relating to section 7
  11. 9Power to provide for further exemptions
  12. 10Orders under section 33 of the WRA, etc
  13. Applications for a licence
  14. 11Who may apply for a licence
  15. 12Abolition of combined licences
  16. 13Applications: types of abstraction licence
  17. 14Publication of application for licence
  18. Consideration of licence applications
  19. 15General consideration of licence applications
  20. 16Protection from derogation
  21. 17Protected rights
  22. 18Register of certain protected rights
  23. Form, contents and effect of licences
  24. 19Form, contents and effect of licences
  25. 20Limited extension of abstraction licence validity
  26. Modification of licences
  27. 21Modification of licences
  28. 22Proposals for modification at instance of Agency or Secretary of State
  29. Transfer and apportionment of licences
  30. 23Transfer and apportionment of licences
  31. Claims and compensation
  32. 24Claims arising out of water abstraction
  33. 25Compensation for modification of licence on direction of Secretary of State
  34. 26Recovery of compensation from new licence-holder
  35. 27Withdrawal of compensation for certain revocations and variations
  36. Water resources management schemes
  37. 28Water resources management schemes: other abstractors
  38. 29Water resources management schemes: referral to Secretary of State
  39. Enforcement
  40. 30Enforcement notices, and related procedures and offences
  41. Miscellaneous
  42. 31Bulk supplies
  43. 32Visiting forces
  44. 33Application of certain water resources provisions to this Act
  45. Part 2: New regulatory arrangements, etc
  46. Establishment, etc of new bodies
  47. 34Water Services Regulation Authority
  48. 35Consumer Council for Water
  49. 36Transfer to Authority and Council of functions, property etc
  50. 37Conditions relating to costs of water regulation
  51. 38Forward work programmes and annual reports
  52. Objectives of regulation of water industry
  53. 39Objectives and duties under WIA
  54. 40Guidance to Authority on social and environmental matters
  55. 41Standards of performance in relation to water supply
  56. 42Standards of performance in relation to sewerage services
  57. Functions of the Council
  58. 43General functions of the Council
  59. 44Provision of information to the Council
  60. 45Provision of statistical information to consumers etc
  61. 46Consumer complaints
  62. 47Investigations by the Council
  63. Enforcement of obligations
  64. 48Financial penalties
  65. 49Enforcement of certain provisions
  66. Remuneration and standards of performance
  67. 50Links between directors' pay and standards of performance
  68. Miscellaneous
  69. 51Reasons for decisions
  70. 52Co-operation between water regulators
  71. The Competition Commission
  72. 53Specialist members of the Competition Commission
  73. 54Determination references under section 12 of the WIA
  74. 55Conditions of appointments under the WIA
  75. Licensing of water suppliers
  76. 56Licensing of other water suppliers
  77. Part 3: Miscellaneous
  78. The Drinking Water Inspectorate
  79. 57The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water and the Drinking Water Inspectorate
  80. Water fluoridation
  81. 58Fluoridation of water supplies
  82. Water resale
  83. 59Charges for services provided with the help of an undertaker
  84. Penalties
  85. 60Abstraction and impounding offences Repealed
  86. 61Supplying water unfit for human consumption Repealed
  87. Water resources management plans
  88. 62Water resources management plans
  89. Drought
  90. 63Drought plans
  91. 64Drought orders and drought permits: charges
  92. 65Procedure at local inquiries
  93. Land drainage and flood defence
  94. 66Revocation of local flood defence schemes
  95. 67Membership of regional flood defence committees in Wales
  96. 68Regional flood defence committees
  97. 69Grants for drainage works and flood warning systems
  98. Information
  99. 70Information
  100. Powers of entry
  101. 71Extension of Environment Agency’s powers of entry
  102. Environment Agency’s general water resources duty
  103. 72Efficient use of water resources
  104. Border rivers
  105. 73Border rivers
  106. Reservoirs
  107. 74Environment Agency to be enforcement authority under the Reservoirs Act 1975
  108. 75Extension of enforcement authority’s reserve powers
  109. 76Service of documents
  110. 77Flood plans: large raised reservoirs
  111. 78National security
  112. 79Offences
  113. 80Crown application
  114. Water conservation
  115. 81Duty to encourage water conservation
  116. 82Water conservation: requirements on relevant undertakers
  117. 83Water conservation by public authorities
  118. Fire hydrants
  119. 84Fire hydrants
  120. Coal mine water pollution
  121. 85Control of water from coal mines
  122. Contaminated land
  123. 86Contaminated land: pollution of controlled waters
  124. Discharge consents
  125. 87Transfer of discharge consents
  126. Trade effluent consents Not yet in force
  127. 88Trade effluent consents Not yet in force
  128. 89Trade effluent consents: conditions of consent Not yet in force
  129. Water mains, etc
  130. 90Water main requisitions: financial conditions
  131. 91Water main requisitions: calculation of payments
  132. 92Self-lay and adoption of water mains and service pipes
  133. Sewers and drains
  134. 93Requisition and adoption of sewers
  135. 94Provision of public sewers otherwise than by requisition
  136. 95Requisition of lateral drains
  137. 96Adoption of lateral drains
  138. 97Requisitioning and adoption of lateral drains: supplementary
  139. 98Schemes for the adoption of sewers, lateral drains and sewage disposal works
  140. 99Communication with public sewers
  141. Part 4: Supplementary
  142. 100Devolution: Wales
  143. 101Minor and consequential amendments and repeals
  144. 102Specific transitional and transitory provisions
  145. 103Powers to make further supplementary, consequential and transitional provision, etc
  146. 104Regulations and orders
  147. 105Interpretation, commencement, short title, and extent
  148. Schedule 1: The Water Services Regulation Authority
  149. Paragraph Not yet in force
  150. Schedule 2: The Consumer Council for Water
  151. Paragraph Not yet in force
  152. Schedule 3: Further provisions about transfers of functions, property etc
  153. Preliminary
  154. 1Paragraph 1
  155. Contents of transfer schemes
  156. 2Paragraph 2
  157. 3Paragraph 3
  158. 4Paragraph 4
  159. Modification of transfer scheme after appointed day
  160. 5Paragraph 5
  161. Effect of transfers
  162. 6Paragraph 6
  163. 7Paragraph 7
  164. 8Paragraph 8
  165. Continuity of employment, etc of transferred employees
  166. 9Paragraph 9
  167. Schedule 4: Licensing of water suppliers
  168. 1Paragraph 1
  169. 2Paragraph 2
  170. 3Paragraph 3
  171. 4Paragraph 4
  172. Schedule 5: Powers of entry under the Coal Industry Act 1994
  173. Paragraph
  174. Schedule 6: Compulsory purchase under the Coal Industry Act 1994
  175. Paragraph
  176. Schedule 7: Minor and consequential amendments
  177. Part 1: Abstraction and impounding
  178. Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57)
  179. 1Paragraph 1
  180. 2Paragraph 2
  181. 3Paragraph 3
  182. 4Paragraph 4
  183. 5Paragraph 5
  184. 6Paragraph 6
  185. 7Paragraph 7
  186. 8Paragraph 8
  187. 9Paragraph 9
  188. 10Paragraph 10
  189. 11Paragraph 11
  190. 12Paragraph 12
  191. 13Paragraph 13
  192. 14Paragraph 14
  193. Environment Act 1995 (c. 25)
  194. 15Paragraph 15
  195. Part 2: New regulatory arrangements, etc
  196. Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)
  197. 16Paragraph 16
  198. Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (c. 67)
  199. 17Paragraph 17
  200. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)
  201. 18Paragraph 18
  202. Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11)
  203. 19Paragraph 19
  204. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  205. 20Paragraph 20
  206. Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  207. 21Paragraph 21
  208. Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74)
  209. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  210. Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12)
  211. 23Paragraph 23
  212. Airports Act 1986 (c. 31)
  213. 24Paragraph 24
  214. Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (c. 46)
  215. 25Paragraph 25
  216. Water Act 1989 (c. 15)
  217. 26Paragraph 26
  218. Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)
  219. 27Paragraph 27
  220. Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57)
  221. 28Paragraph 28
  222. Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 60)
  223. 29Paragraph 29
  224. Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43)
  225. 30Paragraph 30
  226. Coal Industry Act 1994 (c. 21)
  227. 31Paragraph 31
  228. Competition Act 1998 (c. 41)
  229. 32Paragraph 32
  230. Postal Services Act 2000 (c. 26)
  231. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  232. Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27)
  233. 34Paragraph 34
  234. Transport Act 2000 (c. 38)
  235. 35Paragraph 35
  236. Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40)
  237. 36Paragraph 36
  238. Part 3: Miscellaneous
  239. Metropolis Water Act 1852 (c. 84)
  240. 37Paragraph 37
  241. Reservoirs Act 1975 (c. 23)
  242. 38Paragraph 38
  243. Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)
  244. 39Paragraph 39
  245. Land Drainage Act 1991 (c. 59)
  246. 40Paragraph 40
  247. Health Authorities Act 1995 (c. 17)
  248. 41Paragraph 41
  249. Environment Act 1995 (c. 25)
  250. 42Paragraph 42
  251. Schedule 8: Minor and consequential amendments: licensing of water suppliers etc
  252. Water Act 1989 (c. 15)
  253. 1Paragraph 1
  254. Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)
  255. 2Paragraph 2
  256. 3Paragraph 3
  257. 4Paragraph 4
  258. 5Paragraph 5
  259. 6Paragraph 6
  260. 7Paragraph 7
  261. 8Paragraph 8
  262. 9Paragraph 9
  263. 10Paragraph 10
  264. 11Paragraph 11
  265. 12Paragraph 12
  266. 13Paragraph 13
  267. 14Paragraph 14
  268. 15Paragraph 15
  269. 16Paragraph 16
  270. 17Paragraph 17
  271. 18Paragraph 18
  272. 19Paragraph 19
  273. 20Paragraph 20
  274. 21Paragraph 21
  275. 22Paragraph 22
  276. 23Paragraph 23
  277. 24Paragraph 24
  278. 25Paragraph 25
  279. 26Paragraph 26
  280. 27Paragraph 27
  281. 28Paragraph 28
  282. 29Paragraph 29
  283. 30Paragraph 30
  284. 31Paragraph 31
  285. 32Paragraph 32
  286. 33Paragraph 33
  287. 34Paragraph 34
  288. 35Paragraph 35
  289. 36Paragraph 36
  290. 37Paragraph 37
  291. 38Paragraph 38
  292. 39Paragraph 39
  293. 40Paragraph 40
  294. 41Paragraph 41
  295. 42Paragraph 42
  296. 43Paragraph 43
  297. 44Paragraph 44
  298. 45Paragraph 45
  299. 46Paragraph 46
  300. 47Paragraph 47
  301. 48Paragraph 48
  302. 49Paragraph 49
  303. 50Paragraph 50
  304. 51Paragraph 51
  305. 52Paragraph 52
  306. Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57)
  307. 53Paragraph 53
  308. Competition Act 1998 (c. 41)
  309. 54Paragraph 54
  310. Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40)
  311. 55Paragraph 55
  312. Schedule 9: Repeals and revocation
  313. 1Abstraction and impounding
  314. 2New regulatory arrangements, etc
  315. 3Miscellaneous and supplementary