Water (Scotland) Act 1980

1 Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Schedule, a water authority and water development board may, within their limits of supply or area for the purpose of laying, constructing, inspecting, repairing, altering, renewing or removing mains, service pipes, plant or other works, and outside those limits of supply or area for the purpose of laying any mains which they are authorised to lay and of inspecting, repairing, altering, renewing or removing mains, break open the roadway and footpaths of any street and of any bridge carrying a street, and any cellar or vault below any street, and any sewer, drain or tunnel in or under any such roadway or footpath, and may remove and use the soil or other materials in or under any such roadway or footpath:

Provided that they shall in the exercise of the powers conferred by this paragraph cause as little inconvenience and do as little damage as may be, and for any damage done shall pay compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, by arbitration.