Water Industry Act 1991

22 Effect of enforcement order.E+W

(1)The obligation to comply with an enforcement order shall be a duty owed to any person who may be affected by a contravention of the order.

(2)Where a duty is owed by virtue of subsection (1) above to any person, any breach of the duty which causes that person to sustain loss or damage shall be actionable at the suit of that person.

(3)In any proceedings brought against any [F1person] in pursuance of subsection (2) above, other than proceedings in respect of so much of a contravention of any order as consists in a breach of the duty imposed by virtue of section 68(1)(a) [F2or (1A)(a)] below, it shall be a defence for the [F1person] to show that [F3the person] took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid contravening the order.

(4)Without prejudice to any right which any person may have by virtue of subsection (1) above to bring civil proceedings in respect of any contravention or apprehended contravention of an enforcement order, compliance with any such order shall be enforceable by civil proceedings by the relevant enforcement authority for an injunction or for any other appropriate relief.

(5)In subsection (4) above “the relevant enforcement authority”, in relation to any enforcement order, means the Secretary of State or [F4the Authority] or either of them according to who is the enforcement authority in relation to the condition or requirement compliance with which was to be secured by the order.

Textual Amendments

F1Word in s. 22(3) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 30(a); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(j) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)

F2Words in s. 22(3) inserted (1.12.2005) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 101(1), 105(3), Sch. 8 para. 7; S.I. 2005/2714, art. 3(c) (with Sch. para. 8)

F3Words in s. 22(3) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 30(b); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(j) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)

F4Words in Act substituted (1.4.2006) by virtue of Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 36(2), 105(3); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 4(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)