Water Resources Act 1991

24 Restrictions on abstraction. E+W

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Chapter and to any drought order [F1 or drought permit] under Chapter III of this Part, no person shall—

(a) abstract water from any source of supply; or

(b) cause or permit any other person so to abstract any water,

except in pursuance of a licence under this Chapter granted by the [F2 appropriate agency] and in accordance with the provisions of that licence.

(2) Where by virtue of subsection (1) above the abstraction of water contained in any underground strata is prohibited except in pursuance of a licence under this Chapter, no person shall begin, or cause or permit any other person to begin—

(a) to construct any well, borehole or other work by which water may be abstracted from those strata;

(b) to extend any such well, borehole or other work; or

(c) to instal or modify any machinery or apparatus by which additional quantities of water may be abstracted from those strata by means of a well, borehole or other work,

unless the conditions specified in subsection (3) below are satisfied.

(3) The conditions mentioned in subsection (2) above are—

(a) that the abstraction of the water or, as the case may be, of the additional quantities of water is authorised by a licence under this Chapter; and

(b) that—

(i) the well, borehole or work, as constructed or extended; or

(ii) the machinery or apparatus, as installed or modified,

fulfils the requirements of that licence as to the means by which water is authorised to be abstracted.

(4) A person shall be guilty of an offence if—

(a) he contravenes subsection (1) or (2) above; or

(b) he is for the purposes of this section the holder of a licence under this Chapter and, in circumstances not constituting such a contravention, does not comply with a condition or requirement imposed by the provisions, as for the time being in force, of that licence.

(5) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable [F3 on summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine].

(6) The restrictions imposed by this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything in any enactment contained in any Act passed before the passing of the M1 Water Resources Act 1963 on 31st July 1963 or in any statutory provision made or issued, whether before or after the passing of that Act, by virtue of such an enactment.

Textual Amendments

F1 By S.I. 1996/593, reg. 3, Sch. 2 para. 8 it is provided that the words “or drought permit” be substituted (1.4.1996) for the words following “drought order”

F2 Words in ss. 23, 24 substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 270(a) (with Sch. 7)

F3 Words in s. 24(5) substituted (12.3.2015) by The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Fines on Summary Conviction) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/664), reg. 1(1), Sch. 4 para. 24(2) (with reg. 5(1))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 24 excluded (15.1.2010) by The Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3344), regs. 1(b), 21(1) (with reg. 1(d))

C2 S. 24 excluded (22.12.2017) by The M20 Junction 10a Development Consent Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/1202), arts. 1, 3(1)(b) (with arts. 4, 37)

C3 S. 24 excluded (31.5.2018) by The Silvertown Tunnel Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/574), arts. 1(2), 3(1)(m)

C4 S. 24 excluded (13.3.2024) by The Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/230), arts. 1, 6 (with Sch. 11 paras. 5, 22, 37, 47, 82, 110)

C5 S. 24(1) restricted (16.3.1992) by Aire and Calder Navigation Act 1992 (c. iv), s. 17(2)

C6 S. 24(1) restricted (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), Sch. 14 para. 15

C7 S. 24(1) excluded (21.8.2013) by The Croxley Rail Link Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1967), arts. 1, 40(1)

C8 S. 24(1) excluded (15.12.2014) by The London Underground (Northern Line Extension) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3102), arts. 1, 17(1) (with Sch. 8 para. 45)

C9 S. 24(1) restricted (12.1.2016) by The London Underground (Bank Station Capacity Upgrade) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2044), arts. 1, 36(1)

C10 S. 24(1) restricted (23.2.2017) by High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017 (c. 7), s. 70(1), Sch. 21 para. 1

C11 S. 24(1) excluded (2.1.2018) by The Boston Barrier Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/1329), arts. 1, 20(1) (with arts. 55-57, Sch. 8 para. 13)

C12 S. 24(1) restricted (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 21 para. 1

C13 S. 24(1) excluded (25.3.2022) by The Bridgwater Tidal Barrier Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/299), arts. 1, 20(1) (with art. 55)

C14 S. 24(2) applied (1.1.2018) by The Water Abstraction and Impounding (Exemptions) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1044), regs. 1, 4(6)

C15 S. 24(2) excluded (1.1.2018) by The Water Abstraction and Impounding (Exemptions) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1044), regs. 1, 9(1)

Marginal Citations

M1 1963 c. 38.