Explanatory note

England and Wales

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides for fees to be payable, and sets out how the amounts of such fees are to be determined, for the exercise of certain functions under the Water Industry Act 1991 (c.56) by an inspector appointed under that Act. The functions are related to the following investigations and reporting requirements—

(a)

checking water sampling and analysis arrangements;

(b)

checking water supply management arrangements;

(c)

investigating an event, incident, emergency or other matter arising from the quality or sufficiency of water;

(d)

checking the handling and reporting of consumer complaints about water quality or sufficiency; and

(e)

checking compliance with requirements to furnish information to, or to notify, the Secretary of State concerning these arrangements and matters.

Article 4 revokes the Public Bodies (Water Supply and Water Quality Fees) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/277, “the 2013 Order”).

Article 5 requires the Secretary of State to review the operation and effect of the Order, and to publish a report about this, before 1st April 2021 (and thereafter at 5-yearly intervals from that date).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this Order as it merely transposes existing charging provisions from the 2013 Order, which was subject to full impact assessment. Consequently, no additional, or no significant additional, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen as a result of this Order.