Water Act 2003 (Version in vigour from 2022-01-09 to )

Consolidated Text

As Enacted

Cited authorities 259

Cited in

Currency	No known outstanding effects
Coming into Force	09 January 2022

Contenidos

Water Act 2003
Part 1: Abstraction and impounding

Restrictions on abstraction and impounding

1: Licences to abstract water
2: Restrictions on impounding
3: Existing impounding works
4: Existing impounding works: works notices
5: Rights of navigation, harbour and conservancy authorities
6: Rights to abstract small quantities
7: Rights to abstract for drainage purposes, etc
8: Amendments relating to section 7
9: Power to provide for further exemptions
10: Orders under section 33 of the WRA, etc

Applications for a licence

11: Who may apply for a licence
12: Abolition of combined licences
13: Applications: types of abstraction licence
14: Publication of application for licence

Consideration of licence applications

15: General consideration of licence applications
16: Protection from derogation
17: Protected rights
18: Register of certain protected rights

Form, contents and effect of licences

19: Form, contents and effect of licences
20: Limited extension of abstraction licence validity

Modification of licences

21: Modification of licences
22: Proposals for modification at instance of Agency or Secretary of State

Transfer and apportionment of licences

23: Transfer and apportionment of licences

Claims and compensation

24: Claims arising out of water abstraction
25: Compensation for modification of licence on direction of Secretary of State
26: Recovery of compensation from new licence-holder
27: Withdrawal of compensation for certain revocations and variations

Water resources management schemes

28: Water resources management schemes: other abstractors
29: Water resources management schemes: referral to Secretary of State

Enforcement

30: Enforcement notices, and related procedures and offences

Miscellaneous

31: Bulk supplies
32: Visiting forces
33: Application of certain water resources provisions to this Act

Part 2: New regulatory arrangements, etc

Establishment, etc of new bodies

34: Water Services Regulation Authority
35: Consumer Council for Water
36: Transfer to Authority and Council of functions, property etc
37: Conditions relating to costs of water regulation
38: Forward work programmes and annual reports

Objectives of regulation of water industry

39: Objectives and duties under WIA
40: Guidance to Authority on social and environmental matters
41: Standards of performance in relation to water supply
42: Standards of performance in relation to sewerage services

Functions of the Council

43: General functions of the Council
44: Provision of information to the Council
45: Provision of statistical information to consumers etc
46: Consumer complaints
47: Investigations by the Council

Enforcement of obligations

48: Financial penalties
49: Enforcement of certain provisions

Remuneration and standards of performance

50: Links between directors' pay and standards of performance

Miscellaneous

51: Reasons for decisions
52: Co-operation between water regulators

The Competition Commission

53: Specialist members of the Competition Commission
54: Determination references under section 12 of the WIA
55: Conditions of appointments under the WIA

Licensing of water suppliers

56: Licensing of other water suppliers

Part 3: Miscellaneous

The Drinking Water Inspectorate

57: The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water and the Drinking Water Inspectorate

Water fluoridation

58: Fluoridation of water supplies

Water resale

59: Charges for services provided with the help of an undertaker

Penalties

60: Abstraction and impounding offences
61: Supplying water unfit for human consumption

Water resources management plans

62: Water resources management plans

Drought

63: Drought plans
64: Drought orders and drought permits: charges
65: Procedure at local inquiries

Land drainage and flood defence

66: Revocation of local flood defence schemes
67: Membership of regional flood defence committees in Wales
68: Regional flood defence committees
69: Grants for drainage works and flood warning systems

Information

70: Information

Powers of entry

71: Extension of Environment Agency’s powers of entry

Environment Agency’s general water resources duty

72: Efficient use of water resources

Border rivers

73: Border rivers

Reservoirs

74: Environment Agency to be enforcement authority under the Reservoirs Act 1975
75: Extension of enforcement authority’s reserve powers
76: Service of documents
77: Flood plans: large raised reservoirs
78: National security
79: Offences
80: Crown application

Water conservation

81: Duty to encourage water conservation
82: Water conservation: requirements on relevant undertakers
83: Water conservation by public authorities

Fire hydrants

84: Fire hydrants

Coal mine water pollution

85: Control of water from coal mines

Contaminated land

86: Contaminated land: pollution of controlled waters

Discharge consents

87: Transfer of discharge consents

Trade effluent consents

88: Trade effluent consents
89: Trade effluent consents: conditions of consent

Water mains, etc

90: Water main requisitions: financial conditions
91: Water main requisitions: calculation of payments
92: Self-lay and adoption of water mains and service pipes

Sewers and drains

93: Requisition and adoption of sewers
94: Provision of public sewers otherwise than by requisition: In section 101A of the WIA (which imposes a duty on sewerage undertakers to provide sewers for certain premises whose drainage gives rise to adverse environmental effects), in subsection (2)—
95: Requisition of lateral drains
96: Adoption of lateral drains
97: Requisitioning and adoption of lateral drains: supplementary
98: Schemes for the adoption of sewers, lateral drains and sewage disposal works
99: Communication with public sewers

Part 4: Supplementary

100: Devolution: Wales

101: Minor and consequential amendments and repeals

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