Control of Pollution Act 1974

[F130C Water quality objectives.S

(1)For the purpose of maintaining and improving the quality of controlled waters the Secretary of State may, by serving a notice on a river purification authority specifying—

(a)one or more of the classifications for the time being prescribed under section 30B above; and

(b)in relation to each specified classification, a date,

establish the water quality objectives for any waters within the area of that authority which are, or are included in, waters of a description prescribed for the purposes of that section.

(2)The water quality objectives for any waters to which a notice under this section relates shall be the satisfaction by those waters, on and at all times after each date specified in the notice, of the requirements which at the time of the notice were the requirements for the classification in relation to which that date is so specified.

(3)Where the Secretary of State has established water quality objectives under this section for any waters he may review objectives for those waters if—

(a)five years or more have elapsed since the service of the last notice under subsection (1) or (6) of this section to be served in respect of those waters; or

(b)the river purification authority on which that notice has been served, after consultation with such persons as it considers appropriate, requests a review;

and the Secretary of State shall not exercise his power to establish objectives for any waters by varying the existing objectives for those waters except in consequence of such a review.

(4)Where the Secretary of State proposes to exercise his power under this section to establish or vary the objectives for any waters in the area of a river purification authority he shall—

(a)give notice to that authority setting out his proposal and specifying the period (not being less than three months from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations with respect to the proposal may be made; and

(b)consider any representations which are duly made;

and if he decides, after considering any such representations, to exercise his power to establish or vary those objectives, he may do so either in accordance with the proposal contained in the notice or in accordance with that proposal as modified in such manner as he considers appropriate.

(5)A notice under subsection (4) above shall be given—

(a)by publishing the notice in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it; and

(b)by serving a copy of the notice on the authority.

(6)If, on a review under this section or in consequence of any representations made following such a review for the purposes of subsection (4) above, the Secretary of State decides that the water quality objectives for any waters in the area of a river purification authority should remain unchanged, he shall serve notice of that decision on that authority.]

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 30C amended (9.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1609, reg. 3(a)

S. 30C amended (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/574, reg. 4(a)

C2S. 30C modified (9.8.1992) by S.I. 1991/1609, reg. 3(b)

S. 30C modified (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/574, reg. 4(b)

C3S. 30C(4)(5) excluded by S.I. 1990/126, reg. 4

S. 30C(4)(5) omitted (to the extent specified in S.I. 1992/574, reg. 4(b)) (1.4.1992) by virtue of S.I. 1992/574, reg. 4(b).