{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-resources-act-1991/section-84",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-resources-act-1991/section-84.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1991/57",
  "legislation_title": "Water Resources Act 1991",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/water-resources-act-1991",
  "path": "section/84",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "84",
  "heading": "General duties to achieve and maintain objectives etc.",
  "text": "(1) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State and of the appropriate agency to exercise the powers conferred on him or it by or under the water pollution provisions of this Act (other than the preceding provisions of this Chapter and sections 104 and 192 below) and by the Environmental Permitting Regulations in such manner as ensures, so far as it is practicable by the exercise of those powers to do so, that the water quality objectives specified for any waters in—\n(a) a notice under section 83 above; or\n(b) a notice under section 30C of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 (which makes corresponding provision for Scotland),\nare achieved at all times.\n(2) It shall be the duty of the appropriate agency, for the purposes of the carrying out of its functions under the water pollution provisions of this Act or under the Environmental Permitting Regulations —\n(a) to monitor the extent of pollution in controlled waters; ...\n(aa) in the case of the NRBW, to consult, in such cases as it may consider appropriate, with the Agency; and\n(b) in the case of the Agency, to consult, in such cases as it may consider appropriate, with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or with the NRBW.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 84(1) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 273(2) (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 84(1) inserted (6.4.2010) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/675), reg. 1(1)(b), Sch. 26 para. 8(4)(a) (with reg. 1(2), Sch. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 84(2) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 273(3)(a) (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 84(2) inserted (6.4.2010) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/675), reg. 1(1)(b), Sch. 26 para. 8(4)(b) (with reg. 1(2), Sch. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in s. 84(2)(a) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 273(3)(b) (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 84(2)(aa) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 273(3)(c) (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 84(2)(b) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 273(3)(d)(i) (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 84(2)(b) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/973, reg. 2, Sch. para. 11"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 84(2)(b) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 273(3)(d)(ii) (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1974 c. 40."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 84 amended (27.8.1993) by 1993 c. 12, ss. 40, 51(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 9 (with s. 46)."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 84 modified by S.I. 2010/675, Sch. 23 Pt. 8 para. 3 Table 9 (as substituted (1.10.2011) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2043), reg. 1(b), Sch. 1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 84 modified (1.1.2017) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154), reg. 1(1), Sch. 23 Pt. 7 paras. 1(3), 2 (with regs. 1(3), 77-79, Sch. 4)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/57/section/84",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:36:46.190861+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."
}