Water Act 2003

64 Drought orders and drought permits: charges

(1) In section 77 of the WRA (provisions of drought order with respect to abstractions and discharges), subsection (4) is omitted.

(2) In section 79 of the WRA (compensation and charges where drought order made), after subsection (3) there is added—

“(4) Where a water undertaker makes an application for a drought order, the Agency may recover from the water undertaker any expenses it incurs (whether of a revenue or capital nature)—

(a) in connection with any local inquiry held in respect of the application;

(b) in the exercise of the Agency’s functions so far as their exercise is attributable to the application and (if the order is made) to the order,

in so far as those expenses have not been recovered (whether from the water undertaker or not) under or by virtue of any other enactment.

(5) Sections 125 to 129 below shall not apply in respect of any charges which may be made under subsection (4) above.”

(3) In section 79A of the WRA (drought permits)—

(a) subsection (8) is omitted, and

(b) after subsection (8) there is inserted—

“(8A) Where a water undertaker makes an application for a drought permit, the Agency may recover from the water undertaker any expenses it incurs (whether of a revenue or capital nature) in the exercise of its functions so far as their exercise is attributable to—

(a) the application;

(b) (if the permit is issued) the permit,

in so far as those expenses have not been recovered (whether from the water undertaker or not) under or by virtue of any other enactment.

(8B) Sections 125 to 129 below shall not apply in respect of any charges which may be made under subsection (8A) above.”