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Control of Pollution Act 1974

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Part IIE+W+S Pollution of water

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. II modified (S.) (19.5.1993) by S.I. 1993/1156, regs. 3, 4, 5, Sch. 1

Pt. II (ss. 31-56) modified (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 33(5)(b) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

C2Pt. II amended by S.I. 1984/1200, reg. 2(1)

Pt. II amended (1.5.1994) by S.I. 1994/1056, reg. 1(3), 19, Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 11

C3Pt. II modified by S.I. 1984/1200, reg. 3, Sch. 1 and 1985/5, regs. 3(1)(2), 4(1)( a )

C5Functions exercisable under Pt. II by (a) Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (b) that Minister and Secretary of State jointly transferred (W.) by S.I. 1978/272, art. 2(1)(3), Sch. 1

Pt. II: transfer of functions (12.10.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 21(1)(a)(ii) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/2649, art. 2

General provisionsE+W+S

[F130A Waters to which Part II applies.S

(1)This part applies to any waters (in this Part referred to as “controlled waters”) of any of the following classes—

(a)relevant territorial waters, that is to say, subject to subsection (5) below, the waters which extend seaward for three miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland is measured;

(b)coastal waters, that is to say, any waters which are within the area which extends landward from those baselines as far as the limit of the highest tide or, in the case of the waters of any relevant river or watercourse, as far as the fresh-water limit of the river or watercourse, together with the waters of any enclosed dock which adjoins waters within that area;

(c)inland waters, that is to say, the waters of any relevant loch or pond or of so much of any relevant river or watercourse as is above the fresh-water limit;

(d)ground waters, that is to say, any waters contained in underground strata, or in—

(i)a well, borehole or similar work sunk into underground strata, including any adit or passage constructed in connection with the well, borehole or work for facilitating the collection of water in the well, borehole or work; or

(ii)any excavation into underground strata where the level of water in the excavation depends wholly or mainly on water entering it from the strata.

(2)The Secretary of State—

(a)shall deposit maps with [F2SEPA] showing what appear to him to be the fresh-water limits of every relevant river or watercourse . . . F3; and

(b)may from time to time, if he considers it appropriate to do so by reason of any change of what appears to him to be the fresh-water limit of any river or watercourse, deposit a map showing a revised limit for that river or watercourse;

and in subsection (1) above “fresh-water limit”, in relation to any river or watercourse, means the place for the time being shown as the fresh-water limit of that river or watercourse in the latest map deposited for that river or watercourse under this subsection.

(3)It shall be the duty of [F2SEPA] to keep any maps deposited with it under subsection (2) above available, at all reasonable times, for inspection by the public free of charge.

(4)In this section—

  • miles” means international nautical miles of 1,852 metres;

  • loch or pond” includes a reservoir of any description;

  • relevant loch or pond” means (subject to subsection (5) below) any loch or pond which (whether it is natural or artificial or above or below ground) discharges into a relevant river or watercourse or into another loch or pond which is itself a relevant loch or pond;

  • relevant river or watercourse” means any river or watercourse (including an underground river or watercourse and an artificial river or watercourse) which is neither a public sewer nor a sewer or drain which drains into a public sewer.

(5)The Secretary of State may by order provide—

(a)that any area of the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland is to be treated as if it were an area of relevant territorial waters for the purposes of this Part;

(b)that any loch or pond which does not discharge into a relevant river or watercourse or into a relevant loch or pond is to be treated for those purposes as a relevant loch or pond.

(6)The power of the Secretary of State to make an order under subsection (5) above shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament; and such an order may—

(a)contain such supplemental, consequential and transitional provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate; and

(b)make different provision for different cases, including different provision in relation to different persons, circumstances or localities.]

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 30A(2)(a) and (3) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 29(2) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F3Words in s. 30A(2)(a) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1)(3), Sch. 22 para. 29(3), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6S. 30A extended (2.12.1991) by S.I. 1991/2539, reg. 3, Sch.

S. 30A amended (27.8.1993) by 1993 c. 12, ss. 40, 51(2), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 16 (with ss. 42, 46)

C8S. 30A(1)(c) modified (6.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/3047, reg. 15(1)

F4F530B Classification of quality waters.S

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F6F730C Water quality objectives.S

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F8F930D General duties to achieve and maintain objectives etc.S

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F8F1030E Consultation and collaboration.S

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[F11 Control of entry of polluting matter and effluents into water]S

Textual Amendments

F11Crossheading inserted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 106, Sch. 16 para. 2 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F1230F Pollution offences.S

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F1230G Prohibition of certain discharges by notice or regulations.S

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F1230H Discharges into and from sewers etc.S

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F1230I Defence to principal offences in respect of authorised discharges.S

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F1230J Other defences to principal offences.S

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Control of entry of polluting matter and effluents into waterE+W+S

F1231 Control of pollution of rivers and coastal waters etc. S

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F1231A Requirements to take precautions against pollution.S

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F8F1331B Nitrate sensitive areas.S

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F8F1431C Registering of agreement.S

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F1531D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

Textual Amendments

F1632. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

Textual Amendments

F1733 Control of sanitary appliances on vessels.S

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Consents for dischargesS

F1734 Consents for discharges of trade and sewage effluent etc. S

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F1735 Reference to Secretary of State of certain applications for consent. S

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F1736 Provisions supplementary to ss. 34 and 35. S

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F1737 Revocation of consents and alteration and imposition of conditions. S

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F1738 Restriction on variation and revocation of consent and of previous variation. S

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F1738A General review of consents.S

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F1739 Appeals to the Secretary of State. S

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F1740 Transitional provisions relating to consent. S

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Ancillary provisions relating to control of dischargesS

F8F1841 Registers. S

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F1942A Exclusion from registers of information affecting national security.S

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F2042B Exclusion from registers of certain confidential information.S

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Control of discharges of trade effluent into public sewersE+W

F21F2243. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F23F2444. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F25F2645. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

MiscellaneousS

F2746 Operations by river purification authorities to remedy or forestall pollution of water.S

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F2746A Notices requiring persons to carry out anti-pollution operations.S

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F2746B Grant of, and compensation for, rights of entry etc.S

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F2746C Appeals against works notices.S

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F2746D Consequences of not complying with a works notice.S

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F28F27F2947 Duty of water authorities to deal with waste from vessels etc.S

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F2748 Power of water authorities to exclude unregistered vessels from rivers etc.S

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F2749 Deposits and vegetation in rivers etc.S

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F2749A Enforcement notices as respects discharge consents.S

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F2749B Appeals against enforcement notices.S

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F2750 Investigation of water pollution problems arising from closure of mines.S

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[F3051 Codes of good agricultural practice. S

(1)The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument approve any code of practice issued (whether by him or by another person) for the purpose of—

(a)giving practical guidance to persons engaged in agriculture with respect to activities that may affect controlled waters; and

(b)promoting what appear to him to be desirable practices by such persons for avoiding or minimising the pollution of any such waters,

and may at any time by such an order approve a modification of such a code or withdraw his approval of such a code or modification.

(2)A contravention of a code of practice as for the time being approved under this section shall not of itself give rise to any criminal or civil liability, F31...

(3)The Secretary of State shall not make an order under this section unless he has first consulted the river purification authorities.]

Textual Amendments

F30S. 51 repealed (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)-(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 41(1), 57(6), 58, Sch. 27 Pt. I and substituted (S.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 168, 189(4)-?(10), 190, 193(1), 194(4), Sch. 23 para. 5, Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 41(1), 57(6), 58

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C9S. 51 extended by S.I. 1985/708, art. 3, Sch. 1

F32F3352 Charges in respect of certain discharges in England and Wales.S

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F3453. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

Textual Amendments

F3554. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

Textual Amendments

SupplementalU.K.

F3655. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

Textual Amendments

[F3755A Regulations under this Part.S

Regulations made under this Part of this Act may provide that any provision of this Part, except this section F38..., shall have effect with such modifications as may be prescribed for the purpose of enabling Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom—

(a)to give effect to any [F39EU] obligation or exercise any related right; or

(b)to give effect to any obligation or exercise any related right under any international agreement to which the United Kingdom is for the time being a party,

and “related right”, in relation to an obligation, includes any derogation or other right to make more onerous provisions available in respect of that obligation.]

[F4056 Interpretation etc. of Part II.S

(1)Except where the context otherwise requires, in this Part of this Act—

  • agriculture” and “agricultural” have the same meanings as in the Agriculture (Scotland) Act M1 1948;

  • [F41controlled waters” has the meaning] given by section 30A(1) above;

  • [F42drain” has the same meaning as in the M2Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968;]

  • F43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • F43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • F43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • F43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • [F42sewer” has the same meaning as in the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968;]

  • F44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • F43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • F43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • underground strata” means strata subjacent to the surface of any land;

  • F44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • watercourse” includes all rivers, streams, ditches, drains, cuts, culverts, dykes, sluices, sewers, and passages through which water flows except mains and other pipes which belong to [F45Scottish Water] or are used by [F46Scottish Water] or any other person for the purposes only of providing a supply of water to any premises.

(2)In this Part of this Act—

(a)any reference to the waters of any loch or pond or of any river or watercourse includes a reference to the bottom, channel or bed of any loch, pond, river or, as the case may be, watercourse which is for the time being dry; and

(b)any reference to water contained in underground strata is a reference to water so contained otherwise than in a sewer, pipe, reservoir, tank or other underground works constructed in any such strata.

F47(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F48(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F49(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F50(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

Textual Amendments

F42Definitions in s. 56(1) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 106, Sch. 16 para. 8 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10S. 56(1)-(4) extended (2.12.1991) by S.I. 1991/2539, reg. 3, Sch.

S. 56(1)-(4) amended (27.8.1993) by 1993 c. 12, ss. 40, 51(3), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 16 (with ss. 42, 46)

Marginal Citations

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