{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-industry-act-1991/section-86",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-industry-act-1991/section-86.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1991/56",
  "legislation_title": "Water Industry Act 1991",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-industry-act-1991",
  "path": "section/86",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "86",
  "heading": "Appointment and functions of inspectors",
  "text": "(1) The Secretary of State may for the purposes of this section appoint persons to act on his behalf . . . in relation to some or all of—\n(a) the powers and duties conferred or imposed on him by or under sections 67 to 70 and 77 to 82 above; ...\n(b) such other powers and duties in relation to the quality and sufficiency of water supplied using a water undertaker’s supply system as are conferred or imposed on him by or under any other enactments ; and\n(c) arrangements for assessing and securing compliance, and responding to failures to comply, with directions (or any particular direction) under section 208.\n(1A) Subject to subsection (1B) below, the Secretary of State shall designate one such person as the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water.\n(1B) If the function of the Secretary of State under subsection (1) above is transferred to any extent to the Assembly—\n(a) subject to paragraph (b) below, the Assembly may designate one such person appointed by it as the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water for Wales; but\n(b) if the person designated by the Assembly is the same as the person designated by the Secretary of State as the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water, he shall be known as such in both capacities.\n(2) An inspector appointed under this section shall—\n(a) carry out such investigations as the Secretary of State may require him to carry out for the purpose of—\n(i) ascertaining whether any duty or other requirement imposed on that undertaker or a water supply licensee by or under any of sections 68, 69 and 79 above or imposed on a relevant person (as defined in subsection (1A) of section 70 above) by or under that section is being, has been or is likely to be contravened; or\n(ii) advising the Secretary of State as to whether, and if so in what manner, any of the powers of the Secretary of State in relation to such a contravention, or any of the powers (including the powers to make regulations) which are conferred on him by or under any of sections 67 to 70 and 77 to 82 above should be exercised;\nand\n(b) make such reports to the Secretary of State with respect to any such investigation as the Secretary of State may require.\n(3) Without prejudice to the powers conferred by subsection (4) below, it shall be the duty of a water undertaker , water supply licensee or other relevant person (as defined in section 70(1A) above)—\n(a) to give an inspector appointed under this section all such assistance; and\n(b) to provide an inspector so appointed with all such information,\nas that person may reasonably require for the purpose of carrying out any such investigation as is mentioned in subsection (2) above.\n(4) Any inspector appointed under this section who is designated in writing for the purpose by the Secretary of State may—\n(a) enter any premises for the purpose of carrying out any such investigation as is mentioned in subsection (2) above;\n(b) carry out such inspections, measurements and tests on premises entered by that inspector or of articles or records found on any such premises, and take away such samples of water or of any land or articles, as that inspector considers appropriate for the purpose of enabling him to carry out any such investigation; or\n(c) at any reasonable time require—\n(i) any water undertaker or water supply licensee to supply him with copies of, or extracts from, the contents of any records kept for the purpose of complying with any duty or other requirement imposed on that undertaker or licensee by or under any of sections 68, 69 and 79 above; or\n(ii) any relevant person (as defined in subsection (1A) of section 70 above) to supply him with copies of, or extracts from, the contents of any records kept for the purpose of complying with any duty or other requirement imposed on that person by or under that section.\n(5) Part II of Schedule 6 to this Act shall apply to the rights and powers conferred by subsection (4) above.\n(6) Any water undertaker , water supply licensee or other relevant person which fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the duty imposed on that person by virtue of subsection (3) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable —\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or to a fine, or both;\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine, or both.\n(7) Proceedings by the Secretary of State for an offence under this section or in relation to the quality and sufficiency of water supplied using a water undertaker’s supply system may be instituted and carried on in the name of the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water.\n(8) Any such proceedings by the Assembly may be instituted and carried on in the name of the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water for Wales, if there is one (or, if subsection (1B)(b) above applies, in the name of the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water).\n(9) In this section “inspector” means the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water or any other person appointed under subsection (1) above.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(1) repealed (1.4.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 57(2), 101(2), 105(3), Sch. 9 Pt. 3; S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(z)(i) (with art. 6, Sch. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in s. 86(1) omitted (24.2.2025) by virtue of Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (c. 5), ss. 12(3)(b)(i), 17(2)(h)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(1)(b) substituted (1.12.2005) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 101(1), 105(3), Sch. 8 para. 26(2); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 3(c) (with Sch. para. 8)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 86(1)(c) and word inserted (24.2.2025) by Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (c. 5), ss. 12(3)(b)(ii), 17(2)(h)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 86(1A)(1B) inserted (1.4.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 57(3), 105(3); S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(m) (with art. 6, Sch. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(2) substituted (1.4.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 57(4), 105(3); S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(m) (with art. 6, Sch. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(2)(a)(i) substituted (1.12.2005) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 101(1), 105(3), Sch. 8 para. 26(3); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 3(c) (with Sch. para. 8)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(2)(a)(i) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 75(2); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(o) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(3) inserted (1.12.2005) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 101(1), 105(3), Sch. 8 para. 26(4); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 3(c) (with Sch. para. 8)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(3) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 75(2); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(o) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(3)(a)(b) substituted (1.4.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 57(5), 105(3); S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(m) (with art. 6, Sch. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Word in s. 86(4) substituted (1.4.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 57(6), 105(3); S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(m) (with art. 6, Sch. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "S. 86(4)(c) substituted (1.12.2005) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 101(1), 105(3), Sch. 8 para. 26(5); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 3(c) (with Sch. para. 8)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(4)(c)(i) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 75(2); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(o) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(4)(c)(i) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 75(3); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(o) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(6) inserted (1.12.2005) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 101(1), 105(3), Sch. 8 para. 26(6); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 3(c) (with Sch. para. 8)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(6) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 75(2); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(o) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(6) inserted (24.4.2025) by Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (c. 5), ss. 6(2)(a), 17(5)(a) (with s. 6(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F19",
      "text": "Words in s. 86(6) substituted (1.4.2016) by water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 75(4); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(o) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F20",
      "text": "S. 86(6)(a)(b) substituted for words in s. 86(6) (24.4.2025) by Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (c. 5), ss. 6(2)(b), 17(5)(a) (with s. 6(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F21",
      "text": "S. 86(7)-(9) added (1.4.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 57(8), 105(3); S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(m) (with art. 6, Sch. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F22",
      "text": "S. 86 heading substituted (24.2.2025) by Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (c. 5), ss. 12(3)(a), 17(2)(h)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/56/section/86",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-04T03:48:29.824737+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."
}