Water Resources Act 1991

3 Incidental functions of the Authority

(1) This section has effect, without prejudice to section 2 above, for the purposes of section 4(1) below and the construction of any other enactment which, by reference to the functions of the Authority, confers any power on or in relation to the Authority.

(2) For the purposes to which this section applies the functions of the Authority shall be taken to include the protection against pollution—

(a) of any waters, whether on the surface or underground, which belong to the Authority or any water undertaker or from which the Authority or any water undertaker is authorised to take water;

(b) without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, of any reservoir which belongs to or is operated by the Authority or any water undertaker or which the Authority or any water undertaker is proposing to acquire or construct for the purpose of being so operated; and

(c) of any underground strata from which the Authority or any water undertaker is for the time being authorised to abstract water in pursuance of a licence under Chapter II of Part II of this Act.

(3) For the purposes to which this section applies the functions of the Authority shall be taken to include the furtherance of research into matters in respect of which functions are conferred by or under this Act, the other consolidation Acts or the [1989 c. 15.] Water Act 1989 on the Authority or on relevant undertakers.

(4) For the purposes to which this section applies the functions of the Authority shall be taken to include joining with or acting on behalf of one or more relevant undertakers for the purpose of carrying out any works or acquiring any land which at least one of the undertakers with which it joins, or on whose behalf it acts, is authorised to carry out or acquire for the purposes of—

(a) any function of that undertaker under any enactment; or

(b) any function which is taken to be a function of that undertaker for the purposes to which section 217 of the [1991 c. 56.] Water Industry Act 1991 applies.

(5) For the purposes to which this section applies the functions of the Authority shall be taken to include the provision of supplies of water in bulk, whether or not such supplies are provided for the purposes of, or in connection with, the carrying out of any other function of the Authority.

(6) For the purposes to which this section applies the functions of the Authority shall be taken to include the provision of houses and other buildings for the use of persons employed by the Authority and the provision of recreation grounds for persons so employed.

(7) In this section—

• “the other consolidation Acts” means the [1991 c. 58.] Water Industry Act 1991, the [1991 c. 59.] Statutory Water Companies Act 1991, the [1991 c. 60.] Land Drainage Act 1991 and the Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991;

• “relevant undertaker” means a water undertaker or sewerage undertaker; and

• “supply of water in bulk” means a supply of water for distribution by a water undertaker taking the supply.