Water (Scotland) Act 1980

Power to examine pipes and other works to ascertain source of pollution.S

39(1)For the purpose of ascertaining whether water belonging to them is being fouled by gas or otherwise, the undertakers may open the ground, and examine any pipes or other works from which they have reason to suspect that their water is being fouled:

Provided that, before proceeding so to do, they shall give 24 hours’ notice of the time at which the examination is intended to take place both to the owners of the pipes or other works and also [F1—

(a)where the ground is, or comprehends, part of—

(i)a public road, to the roads authority; or

(ii)any other road, to the person responsible for the maintenance of that road, or, if no authority or person is so responsible, to the owners of the solum of that part; and

(b)where or in so far as the ground is not mentioned in head (a) above, to the person having the control or management of the ground;

and the undertakers] shall be subject to the like obligations and liable to the same penalties in relation to reinstatement, maintenance and other matters as those to which they are subject and liable when breaking open [F2roads] for the purpose of laying water pipes.

(2)If, upon such examination as aforesaid, it appears that water of the undertakers has been fouled by gas or otherwise from pipes or other works, the undertakers may recover from the owner of such pipes or other works the expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with the examination and the repair of the [F3road] or place disturbed in the examination, but otherwise the undertakers shall pay all expenses of the examination and repair, and shall also make good to the said owner any injury which may be occasioned to his pipes or other works by the examination.

The amount of the expenses of any such examination and repair, and of any injury so occasioned, shall in case of dispute be determined by arbitration.

Textual Amendments