OpenLegislation

Water Resources Act 1963

1963 c. 38 · Enacted 31 July 1963 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 26 June 1991.

An Act to provide for the establishment of river authorities and a Water Resources Board, to confer on them, and on the Minister of Housing and Local Government, new functions in relation to water resources in England and Wales, and to provide for the transfer to river authorities of functions previously exercisable by river boards and other bodies; to make further provision for controlling the abstraction and impounding of water, for imposing charges in respect of licences to abstract or impound water, and for securing the protection and proper use of inland waters and water in underground strata; to enable corresponding provision to be made in relation to the Thames and Lee catchment areas and certain other areas in or adjacent to London; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

[31st July 1963] I1C1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8E1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act extended by S.I. 1972/971, Sch. 1 Pt. A

C2

The base date version of this Act is as revised to 1.12.1991 and takes into account the effects (if any) on it of consolidating legislation which came into force at that date.

C3

Act modified by S.I. 1974/607, art. 13(1)(2)

C4

Act modified by Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53, SIF 102), s. 6, Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 5(4) (with s. 45, Sch. 7 Pt. VI para. 2)

C5

Act amended (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 128, 190, Sch. 13 para. 1(1), Sch. 26 para. 30(6) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58) (which Sch. 26 para. 30 is repealed (1.12.1991) by Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 60, SIF 130), ss. 3(1), 4(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I (with Sch. 2 paras. 10, 14(1), 15)

C6

Act extended (with modifications) (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c.15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 26 para. 30(8) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58) (which Sch. 26 para. 30 is repealed (1.12.1991) by Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 60, SIF 130), ss. 3(1), 4(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I (with Sch. 2 paras. 10, 14(1), 15)

C7

Act applied (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 26 para. 31(2)(3)(4) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58) (which Sch. 26 para. 31 is repealed (1.12.1991) by Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 60, SIF 130), ss. 3(1), 4(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I (with Sch. 2 paras. 10, 14(1), 15)

C8

Act saved (26.6.1991) by S.I. 1991/1619, art. 12

Commencement

I1

Act wholly in force at Royal Assent.

Extent

E1

For the extent of this Act see s. 137(2)(3)

Contents

  1. Part I: Functions of Ministers in relation to Water Resources
  2. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  3. 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  4. Part II: River Authorities and Water Resources Board
  5. River authorities
  6. 3Section 3
  7. 4—15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  8. 16Section 16
  9. 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  10. 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  11. 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  12. 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  13. 21Section 21
  14. 22—32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  15. 33—35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  16. 36—55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  17. 56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  18. Part V: Charges For Licences To Abstract Or Impound Water
  19. 57—59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  20. 60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  21. 61, 62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  22. 63, 64. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. Part VI: Powers of River Authorities in Relation to Land and Works
  24. 65—70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  25. 71Section 71
  26. Part VII: Additional Functions of River Authorities
  27. 72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  28. 73. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  29. 74. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  30. 75. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  31. 76. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  32. 77. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  33. 78. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  34. 79Byelaws for protection of water resources.
  35. 80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  36. 81, 82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  37. Part VIII: Financial Provisions
  38. 83—87. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  39. 88. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  40. 89, 90. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  41. 91. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  42. 92. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  43. 93Section 93
  44. Part IX
  45. 94—100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  46. Part X: Miscellaneous and Supplementary Provisions
  47. 101—104. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  48. 105. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  49. 106. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 107, 108. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  51. 109. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  52. 110. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  53. 111—113. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  54. 114—118. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  55. 119. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  56. 120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  57. 121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  58. 122. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  59. 123. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  60. 124, 125. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  61. 126Section 126
  62. 127. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  63. 128Section 128
  64. 129. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  65. 130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  66. 131, 132. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  67. 133Repeal, amendment and adaptation of local enactments.
  68. 134Regulations and orders.
  69. 135Interpretation.
  70. 136Amendments and repeals.
  71. 137Short title and extent.
  72. Schedule S 1—6Schedule S 1—6
  73. Schedule 7. . .
  74. Schedule S 8, 9. . .
  75. Schedule 10. . .
  76. Schedule S 11—14Schedule S 11—14

1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

3

1)—(4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

6), (7)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4—15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

16

(1)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

2)(3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

21

1), (2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

3),(4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

22—32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

33—35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

36—55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

57—59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

61, 62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

63, 64. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

65—70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

71

–

1),(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

(6)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

73. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

74. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

75. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

76. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

77. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

78. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

79Byelaws for protection of water resources.

F1(1)

Section 18 of the M1Water Act 1945 (which empowers statutory water undertakers to make byelaws for the purpose of protecting water against pollution) shall have effect for enabling byelaws to be made under that section by F2water authorities.

(2)

For the purposes of the application of that section by virtue of the preceding subsection—

(a)

any reference to statutory water undertakers shall be construed as a reference to a F3water authority, and any reference to the undertakers shall be construed as a reference to the water authority by whom the byelaws are made;

(b)

the reference in subsection (1) of that section to water which belongs to statutory water undertakers or which they are for the time being authorised to take shall be construed as a reference to any such water as is mentioned in section 68(1) of this Act; and

(c)

in subsection (5) the words “and subsection (2) of the next but one following section of this Act” shall be omitted.

3)—(6)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

(7)

No byelaw made by virtue of section 18 of the M2Water Act 1945 as applied by subsection (1) of this section shall conflict or interfere with the operation of any byelaw made by a navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority.

8),(9)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5

80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

81, 82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

83—87. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

88. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

89, 90. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

91. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

92. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

93

–

1)(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

94—100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

101—104. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

105. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

106. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

107, 108. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

109. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

110. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

111—113. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

114—118. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

119. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

122. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

123. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

124, 125. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

126

1)(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

F2(3)

Without prejudice to the last preceding subsection, the provisions of this Act relating to the new functions of F3water authorities shall not apply to so much of any inland waters as—

(a)

is part of the River Tweed, or

(b)

is part of the River Esk or of the river Sark or of any tributary stream of the River Esk or River Sark at a point where either of the banks of either of those rivers or of any such tributary stream is in Scotland.

(4)

In this section “the River Tweed” means the “the river” as defined by the Tweed Fisheries Amendment Act 1859 and any byelaw amending that defination.

127. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

128 E+W

1)(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

129. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

131, 132. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W

133Repeal, amendment and adaptation of local enactments. E+W

C1(1)

If it appears to the Minister that any local enactment passed or made before the second appointed day is inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act, or with anything done in the performance of any functions under this Act, or requires to be amended or adapted, having regard to any of the provisions of this Act or to anything done in the performance of any of those functions, he may by order repeal, amend or adapt that enactment to such extent, or in such manner, as he considers appropriate.

(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(3)

Any order under this section may include such transitional, incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the Minister or Ministers may consider necessary or expedient.

(4)

The provisions of this section shall have effect without prejudice to the exercise of any other power to repeal, amend or adapt local enactments which is conferred by any other enactment, including any enactment contained in this Act.

134Regulations and orders. E+W

1),(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(3)

Any power conferred by this Act to make an order shall include power to vary or revoke the order by a subsequent order.

(4)

Any power to make orders under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument:

. . . F2

(5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

(6)

Any statutory instrument containing—

a), (b)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

(c)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)

an order under the last preceding section,

shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament:

. . . F5

135Interpretation. E+W

(1)

In this Act, except in so far as the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say:—

  • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

  • “local enactment” means a local or private Act, a public general Act relating to London, an order or scheme made under an Act or confirmed by Parliament or brought into operation in accordance with special parliamentary procedure, or an enactment in a public general Act amending a local or private Act or any such order or scheme;

  • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • “performance”, in relation to functions, includes the exercise of powers as well as the performance of duties, and “perform” shall be construed accordingly;

  • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • “repeal”, in relation to a local enactment not contained in an Act, means revoke;

  • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2),(3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

5)—(8)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9)

Except in so far as the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to an enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

136Amendments and repeals. E+W

1)—(3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(4)

The repeal of the enactments specified in Part II of Schedule 14 to this Act—

(a)

shall not affect the operation of any statutory provision made or issued by virtue of any of those enactments before the end of the initial period, whether before or after the passing of this Act, and

(b)

shall not prevent the making or issuing of any such statutory provision in pursuance of an application made to a Minister before the end of that period, whether before or after the passing of this Act, or otherwise affect any proceedings in consequence of such an application.

5), (6)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

137Short title and extent. E+W

(1)

This Act may be cited as the Water Resources Act 1963.

(2)

This Act, except—

(a)

sections . . . F1and 126 thereof . . . F2, and

(b)

any provision of this Act in so far as it affects the operation of the enactments mentioned in section 126 (1) of this Act in accordance with that subsection or in so far as it affects the operation of the M1Border Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act 1951,

shall not extend to Scotland.

(3)

This Act . . . shall not extend to Northern Ireland.

Schedule S 1—6F1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Schedule 7. . .F1

Schedule S 8, 9. . .F1

Schedule 10. . .F1

Schedule S 11—14F1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .