Water Act 1989

1989 CHAPTER 15

An Act to provide for the establishment and functions of a National Rivers Authority and of committees to advise that Authority; to provide for the transfer of the property, rights and liabilities of water authorities to the National Rivers Authority and to companies nominated by the Secretary of State and for the dissolution of those authorities; to provide for the appointment and functions of a Director General of Water Services and of customer service committees; to provide for companies to be appointed to be water undertakers and sewerage undertakers and for the regulation of the appointed companies; to make provision with respect to, and the finances of, the nominated companies, holding companies of the nominated companies and statutory water companies; to amend the law relating to the supply of water and the law relating to the provision of sewers and the treatment and disposal of sewage; to amend the law with respect to the pollution of water and the law with respect to its abstraction from inland waters and underground strata; to make new provision in relation to flood defence and fisheries; to transfer functions with respect to navigation, conservancy and harbours to the National Rivers Authority; and for connected purposes.

[6th July 1989]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Extent Information

E1 Act extends to England and Wales but subject to provisions in s. 194(6)-(9).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Act: Power to apply (Isles of Scilly) conferred by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), s. 222(3) (with ss. 82(3), 186(1), 222(1), Sch. 13 paras. 1, 2, Sch. 14 para. 6).

C2 Act: Power to apply (Isles of Scilly) conferred by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), s. 224(3) (with ss. 16(6), 179, 222(3), 224(1), Sch. 22 paras. 1, 2, Sch. 23 para. 6).

C3 Act: Power to apply (Isles of Scilly) conferred by Land Drainage Act 1991 (c. 59, SIF 73:1), s. 75(3) (with ss. 67(3)(5)(8), 72(6)(8), 74(3)(4)).

C4 Act excluded by S.I. 1989/1161, reg. 3.

C5 Act excluded (E.W.) by Statutory Water Companies Act 1991 (c. 58, SIF 130), s. 11(2).

C6 Act restricted (E.W.) by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), ss. 15(2)(a), 18(2) (with ss. 16(6), 178, 179, 222(3), 224(1), Sch. 22 paras. 1, 2, 4, Sch. 23 para. 6).

C7 Act applied by Water Resources Act 1991 (c.57, SIF 130), s.103, Sch. 13 para. 4(6) (with ss. 16(6), 178, 179, 222(3), 224(1), Sch. 22 paras. 1, 2, Sch. 23 para. 6).

C8 Act saved (26.06.1991) by S.I. 1991/1619, art.12.