Part I General Provisions as to Sewerage
Duties and powers of local authorities
C11 Duty of local authority to provide for sewerage of their area.
1
Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be the duty of F1Scottish Water to provide such public sewers as may be necessary for effectually draining F2its area of domestic sewage, surface water and trade effluent, and to make such provision, by means of sewage treatment works or otherwise, as may be necessary for effectually dealing with the contents of F2its sewers.
F32
Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above—
a
b
where F6Scottish WaterF6 have agreed with some other person (in this section referred to as the “private provider”) that he will take a private sewer to such point or points as will enable owners to make such connection as is mentioned in paragraph (a) above, that paragraph shall not apply while the agreement subsists.
3
The duties imposed by the foregoing subsections shall not require F7Scottish Water to do anything which is not practicable at a reasonable cost.
4
If any question arises under this section as to whether anything is or is not practicable at a reasonable cost or as to the point or points to which F8a public sewer, or under an agreement such as is mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) above the private sewer of a private provider, must be taken to enable drains or private sewers to be connected therewith at a reasonable cost, the Secretary of State, if requested to do so by any person aggrieved, shall, after consultation with that person and with F9F6Scottish WaterF6, or as the case may be F10theF10 private provider, concerned, determine that question, and F11F12Scottish WaterF12 or F10theF10 private provider shall give effect to his determination.
F135
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as respects the procedure to be followed as respects a request under subsection (4) above.
6
The power to make regulations under subsection (5) above shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
C22 Maintenance of public sewers and other works.
Subject to section 4 below, it shall be the duty of F14Scottish Water to inspect, maintain, repair, cleanse, empty, ventilate and where appropriate renew all sewers, sewage treatment works and other works vested in F15it by virtue of this Act F16or of F17the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 3)F17.
C33 Construction etc. of public sewers and public sewage treatment works.
1
b
construct public sewage treatment works in or on any land held by F21it or appropriated for the purpose.
2
Before commencing construction of a sewer in, on or over any land not forming part of a F20road, F22Scottish Water shall serve notice of F23its intention on the owner and the occupier of land concerned together with a description of the proposed works and of the right to object thereto, and if within 2 months after the service of the notice the owner or the occupier objects to the proposed works, and that objection is not withdrawn, F24Scottish Water shall not proceed to execute the works without consent aftermentioned but may refer the matter by summary application to the sheriff who may grant consent to the proposed works either unconditionally or subject to such terms and conditions as he thinks just, or who may withhold his consent, and the decision of the sheriff on the matter shall be final.
3
4
F29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F30C43A Authorisation of construction of certain private sewers etc.
1
Without prejudice to F31itsF31 powers under section 3 of this Act (including any power to authorise the construction, on F31itsF31 behalf, of a public sewer), F32Scottish WaterF32 may authorise a person to construct, within F31itsF31 area but whether or not connecting with F31itsF31 sewers or sewage treatment works, a sewer—
a
in, under or over any road, or under any cellar or vault below any road; or
b
in, on or over any land which does not form part of a road and is not land as respects which he is owner, lessee or occupier,
2
a
in giving authorisation to a person under subsection (1) above; or
b
may, in a case where the proposed sewer will connect with F36itsF36 sewers or sewage treatment works, determine (and by written notice advise the person) that all, or a part which F37itF37 shall specify in the notice, of the sewer constructed shall not vest in F38itF38 through the operation of section 16(1)(c) of this Act and shall instead vest in him; but notwithstanding the determination F39Scottish WaterF39 may, on such terms and conditions as F40it thinksF40 fit, then or at some later time enter into an agreement under which the sewer, or as the case may be the part, shall vest in F38itF38 .
C54 Power of local authority to close or alter public sewers etc.
F41Scottish Water may, if F42it thinks fit, close, alter, replace or remove any sewer, sewage treatment works or other works vested in F43it by virtue of this Act F44or of F45the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 3)F45, but, before any person who is lawfully using the sewer or works for any purpose is deprived by F46Scottish Water of that use, F47it shall provide a sewer or works equally effective for that use and shall at F48its expense carry out any work necessary to connect his drain or private sewer with the sewer or works so provided.
F495. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6 Functions outwith the area of a local authority.
F50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 Agreements between highway and local authorities.
1
Subject to the provisions of this section, F51a roads authority and F52Scottish Water may agree, on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the agreement, as to the provision, management, maintenance or use of their sewers or drains for the conveyance of water from the surface of F53a road or surface water from premises.
2
F54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
F55A roads authority or F56Scottish WaterF56 shall not unreasonably refuse to enter into an agreement for the purposes of this section or insist unreasonably upon terms or conditions unacceptable to the other party, F57..., and any dispute arising under this section to which the Secretary of State is not a party as to whether or not F58a roads authority or Scottish Water are acting unreasonably, shall be referred to the Secretary of State, who, after consultation with the F59authority concerned and Scottish Water, shall determine the dispute, and his decision shall be final.
F603A
In the foregoing provisions of this section, “roads authority” has the same meaning as in the M2Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.
F614
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 Agreements as to provision of sewers etc. for new premises.
1
Subject to subsection (2) below, where F62Scottish Water is satisfied that premises are to be constructed within F63its area by any person, F64it may enter into an agreement with that person as respects the provision by that person or by F65it of sewers and sewage treatment works to serve those premises, and any such agreement may specify the terms and conditions on which the work is to be carried out, including provision as to the taking over by F66Scottish Water of sewage treatment works so provided, and, in relation to any premises served or to be served by the sewers or works, shall be enforceable against F67Scottish Water by the owner or occupier of the premises for the time being.
2
9 Loan of temporary sanitary conveniences.
Where work is to be carried out in connection with a sewer, drain or sewage treatment works which necessitates the disconnection of water closets or other sanitary conveniences provided for or in connection with premises, F70Scottish Water may agree with the occupier of the premises, and on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the agreement, to supply on loan to him temporary sanitary conveniences in substitution for any water closets or other sanitary conveniences so disconnected:
Provided that F70Scottish Water shall make no charge for the supply, cleansing or removal of the temporary sanitary conveniences for the first 7 days of the period of loan or where the work is made necessary by a defect in a public sewer.
F7110 Emptying of septic tanks.
1
It shall be the duty of F72Scottish WaterF72 to empty a septic tank serving premises in F73itsF73 area on F73itsF73 being requested to do so by the owner or occupier of the premises; but that duty is subject to subsection (2) below and as respects any particular septic tank—
a
to its being reasonably practicable to empty the tank; and
2
3
If any question arises under this section as to whether emptying is reasonably practicable or as to whether a septic tank receives trade effluent, it shall be determined summarily by the sheriff, whose decision in the matter shall be final.
4
11 Duty of local authority to keep map showing public sewers etc.
F771
F78Scottish WaterF78 shall keep deposited at F79itsF79 principal office a map showing and distinguishing so far as is reasonably practicable all sewers, drains and sewage treatment works which are vested in F80itF80 by virtue of this Act or of F81the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 3)F81 or in respect of which F82it hasF82 made a determination under section 3A(2) of this Act; and F83Scottish WaterF83 shall provide reasonable facilities at that office for inspection of the map by any person and shall permit a copy of the map, or of an extract of it, to be taken by a person on his paying such reasonable amount as F83Scottish WaterF83 may determine.
2
Where some of the sewers so vested in F78Scottish Water are reserved for foul water only or for surface water only, the said map shall show also the purposes which each such sewer is intended to serve.
F843
F78Scottish WaterF78 shall keep deposited at such of F79itsF79 offices, other than F79itsF79 principal office, as F85it considersF85 appropriate, a copy relevant to the office in question of part of the map mentioned in subsection (1) above; and F86itF86 shall provide the like facilities and permission in relation to the copy part, at the office at which that copy is deposited, as, under subsection (1) above, F87it doesF87 in relation to the map mentioned in that subsection at F79itsF79 principal office.
4
Rights and duties of owners and occupiers
12 Rights of owners and occupiers to connect with and drain into public sewers etc.
1
Subject to the provisions of this section and of section 14 below, the owner of any premises F89... shall be entitled to connect his drains or private sewers with the sewers or sewage treatment works of F90Scottish Water , and the occupier of any such premises shall be entitled by means of those drains or private sewers to drain into those sewers or works the domestic sewage and surface water from those premises.
2
An owner shall not, under the foregoing subsection, be entitled to connect his drains or sewers with the sewers or works of F91Scottish Water unless the intervening land is land through which the owner is entitled to construct a drain or sewer.
3
The owner of any premises who proposes to connect his drains or sewers with the sewers or works of F92Scottish Water, or to alter a drain or sewer connected with such sewer or works in such a manner as may interfere with them, shall give to F93Scottish Water notice of his proposals, and within 28 days of the receipt by F94it of the notice F93Scottish Water may refuse permission for the connection or alteration, or grant permission for the connection or alteration, subject to such conditions as F95it thinks fit, and any such permission may in particular specify the mode and point of connection and, where there are separate public sewers for foul water and surface water, prohibit the discharge of foul water into the sewer reserved for surface water, and prohibit the discharge of surface water into the sewer reserved for foul water.
4
F92Scottish Water shall forthwith intimate to the owner F96its decision on any proposals made by him under subsection (3) above, and, where permission is refused, or granted subject to conditions, shall inform him of the reasons for F96its decision and of his right of appeal under subsection (5) below.
5
If a person to whom a decision has been given under subsection (4) above is aggrieved by the decision or any conditions attached thereto, he may appeal to the Secretary of State who may confirm the decision and any such conditions either with or without modification or refuse to confirm it.
6
Where permission has been granted as mentioned in subsection (3) above or by virtue of subsection (5) above, the person to whom it was granted shall, before commencing any work in pursuance of that permission, give not less than 3 days’ notice to F97Scottish Water so as to enable F98it to supervise the execution of the work, and shall afford F98it all reasonable facilities for so doing.
7
Where any work to be done in pursuance of a permission granted under subsection (3) above or by virtue of subsection (5) above involves the breaking open of a F99road, F100Scottish Water may undertake the work in the F99road and may recover the expenses reasonably incurred by F101it in so doing from the person for whom the work was done.
8
Any person who connects a drain or sewer to the sewers or works of F92Scottish Water or alters a drain or sewer without permission granted under this section, or contrary to any conditions attached thereto, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding F191£40,000 , and F102Scottish Water may, whether or not proceedings have been taken under this subsection, close, remove or remake any such unlawful connection, and recover from the offender any expenses reasonably incurred by F103it in so doing.
13 Rights of owners and occupiers to connect with and drain into sewers etc. of another local authority.
F104. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14 Direction by local authority as to manner of construction of works.
1
Where the owner of any premises proposes to construct a drain or sewer in respect of which notice has been given to F105Scottish Water by virtue of section 12(3) above F106... , or sewage treatment works in respect of which notice has been given under subsection (2) below, F107Scottish Water may, if F108it considers that the proposed drain, sewer or works is, or is likely to be, needed to form part of a general sewerage system which F109it has provided or propose to provide, within 28 days of the receipt by F110it of the notice direct him to construct the drain, sewer or works in a manner differing from that in which he proposes to construct the drain, sewer or works.
2
Where the owner of any premises proposes to construct sewage treatment works to serve those premises he shall give notice of his proposals to F111Scottish Water .
3
If a person to whom a direction has been issued under subsection (1) above is aggrieved by the direction, he may appeal to the Secretary of State, who may disallow the direction or allow it with or without modification.
4
A person to whom a direction is issued under this section shall, before commencing any work in pursuance of that direction, give not less than 3 days’ notice to F112Scottish Water so as to enable F113it to supervise the execution of the work and shall afford F113it all reasonable facilities for so doing.
5
F114Where Scottish Water has issued a direction under subsection (1) above, it shall pay to the person constructing the drain, sewer or sewage treatment works the extra expenses reasonably incurred by him in complying with the direction and, until the drain, sewer or works become vested in F107Scottish Water, F115it shall also from time to time pay to him so much of any expenses reasonably incurred by him in repairing, operating or maintaining the drain, sewer or works as may be attributable to F116its direction having been made and complied with, and, if any question arises as to the amount of any payment to be made to him under this subsection, he may refer it by summary application to the sheriff whose decision on the matter shall be final.
6
If any person who under this section has been directed by F105Scottish Water to construct a drain, sewer or sewage treatment works in a particular manner constructs them otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the direction, or, if the direction has been modified under subsection (3) above, of the modified direction, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding F117level 4 on the standard scale.
15 Owner or occupier to remedy defects in drains and other works.
1
If it appears to a local authority F118or F119Scottish WaterF119 that as respects any premises in their F120or, as the case may be, its area the drains or sewage treatment works serving such premises (other than drains or works vested in F121Scottish Water) are defective, F122the local authority or, as the case may be, Scottish Water may by notice require the owner or occupier of the premises, within a reasonable time therein specified, to remedy the defect.
2
If an owner or occupier is aggrieved by a notice under the foregoing subsection he may, within the time specified in the notice, refer the matter by summary application to the sheriff, who may issue such directions as he thinks fit, and whose decision on the matter shall be final.
3
Where an owner or occupier fails to comply with the terms of a notice under subsection (1) above, or as modified under subsection (2) above, the F123localF123F124authority which served the notice may, after giving not less than 7 days’ notice F125or, where the notice was served by Scottish Water, that body to the owner or occupier concerned, carry out the work necessary to remedy the defect, and may recover the expenses reasonably incurred by them F126or, as the case may be, it in so doing from the person on whom the notice was served, but without prejudice to the rights and obligations, as between themselves, of the owner and occupier:
C64
If it appears to F130a local authority or F119Scottish WaterF119 that immediate action is required to remedy a defect, the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply with the following modifications—
a
the period specified in a notice under subsection (1) shall be 48 hours;
b
subsection (2) shall not apply; and
5
In this section “defect” includes any obstruction in a drain or sewage treatment works, and “defective” shall be construed accordingly.
Vesting of sewers, drains and works
C716 Vesting of sewers and other works in local authority.
1
a
b
F140c
cc
d
all sewage treatment works taken over by F136it by virtue of an agreement under section 8 above; and
e
all sewage treatment works taken over by F136it under section 17 below.
2
Private sewers and junctions with sewers referred to in the foregoing subsection which are completed after F142F143the date when section 21 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 3) comes into forceF143 shall vest in F144Scottish WaterF144 on the date of their completion, and the works referred to in paragraph (e) of the foregoing subsection shall vest in F145Scottish Water in accordance with the provisions of section 17 below.
3
4
In this section “junction” means the junction between a public sewer and any other sewer or drain.
F147C816A Vesting of certain private sewers.
1
Subject to any agreement entered into under subsection (2) below, there shall vest in a person authorised, under subsection (1) of section 3A of this Act, by F148Scottish WaterF148 to construct a sewer not connecting with F149itsF149 sewers or sewage treatment works the sewer constructed; and any sewer vested in a person by this subsection or by a determination under subsection (2) of that section shall be his property and he solely responsible for its management, maintenance and renewal.
2
17 Local authority may take over private sewage treatment works.
1
2
F156Scottish Water may, by notice served on the owner of works as mentioned in the foregoing subsection, intimate F157its proposals to take over the works within such period, not being less than 2 months, as may be specified in the notice, and on such conditions, including if F158it thinks fit conditions as to payment of compensation by F159it, as may be so specified F160... ; any notice served under this subsection shall inform the owner of his right of appeal under subsection (3) below.
3
If an owner on whom a notice has been served under subsection (2) above is aggrieved by the notice, he may, within the period specified in the notice, appeal to the Secretary of State who may confirm the proposals of F161Scottish Water and any conditions so specified either with or without modification or refuse to confirm them.
4
All works taken over by F162Scottish Water under this section shall vest in F163it in accordance with the terms of any agreement made under subsection (1) above, or failing such agreement, at the end of the period specified under subsection (2) above or on such date as may be specified by the Secretary of State in his decision on an appeal under subsection (3) above.
5
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person who immediately before the taking over of works under this section was lawfully entitled to use them shall continue to be so entitled after they have been so taken over.
6
An agreement under subsection (1) above or proposals under subsection (2) above may relate to a part only of works.
Miscellaneous
F16418. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F165
20 Compensation for loss etc. resulting from exercise of powers under this Part of this Act.
1
Subject to the provisions of this section, F166Scottish Water shall make full compensation for any loss, injury or damage sustained by any person by reason of the exercise by F167Scottish Water of any of F168its powers under this Part of this Act in relation to a matter as to which he has not himself been in default.
2
Any question arising under this section as to the fact of loss, injury or damage or as to the amount of compensation shall, in the case of dispute, be referred to a single arbiter to be appointed by agreement between the parties or, in default of agreement, by the Secretary of State, and the arbiter may, and, if so directed by the Court of Session, shall, state a case for the opinion of that Court on any question of law arising in the proceedings.
3
4
Where an owner of land claims compensation in respect of loss, injury or damage sustained by him by reason of F166Scottish Water having, in the exercise of F172its powers under this Part of this Act, constructed a sewer in, on or over his land, the arbiter in determining the amount of compensation shall determine also by what amount, if any, the value to the claimant of any land belonging to him has been enhanced by the construction of the sewer, and F173Scottish Water shall be entitled to set off that amount against the amount of any compensation awarded.
F174C95
C1021 Buildings not to interfere with sewers.
F1751
Unless with the consent of F176Scottish Water, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, no building shall be erected F177or embankment constructed over, or in such a way as to interfere with or to obstruct access to, any sewer vested in F178Scottish WaterF179or in respect of which F180it has made a determination under section 3A(2) of this Act.
2
If any question arises as to whether consent under the foregoing subsection has been unreasonably withheld or as to what conditions should be attached to the consent, a person aggrieved may refer the question by summary application to the sheriff, whose decision in the matter shall be final.
3
In this section “building” has the same meaning as in section F19255(1) and (2) of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 8).
C11C12C1322 Protection for statutory undertakers.
1
Subject to the provisions of this section, nothing in this Part of this Act shall authorise F181Scottish Water to carry out works which will interfere with the carrying on of a statutory undertaking F182or the running of F189an electronic communications code networkwithout the consent of the statutory undertakers concerned or, as the case may be, of the operator of F190that network.
2
Consent under the foregoing subsection shall not be unreasonably withheld, and if any question arises as to whether or not consent is unreasonably withheld or as to what conditions, including payment of compensation, should be attached to the consent, either party may require that it shall be referred to a single arbiter to be appointed, in default of agreement, by the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and the arbiter may, and, if so directed by the Court of Session, shall, state a case for the opinion of that Court on any question of law arising in the proceedings.
F1832A
The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to a person constructing a sewer by virtue of having been authorised to do so under section 3A(1), as they would apply to F181Scottish Water constructing a sewer under section 3(1), of this Act.
3
Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the powers of F181Scottish Water under section 41 below.
4
C1423 Restriction on working minerals.
Sections 71 to 78 of the M4Railways Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845 (which restrict the working of minerals, subject to the payment of compensation), as originally enacted and not as amended for certain purposes by section 15 of the M5Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1923, shall apply in relation to
F185a
any public sewers, public sewage treatment works or public drains; and
b
to which they do not already apply, with the substitution—