Water Act 1989

111 Water protection zones

(1) Where the Secretary of State, after consultation (in the case of an area wholly or partly in England) with the Minister, considers that it is appropriate, with a view to preventing or controlling the entry of any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into controlled waters, to prohibit or restrict the carrying on in a particular area of activities which he considers are likely to result in the pollution of any such waters, he may by order make provision—

(a) designating that area as a water protection zone; and

(b) prohibiting or restricting the carrying on in the designated area of such activities as may be specified or described in the order.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred by virtue of subsection (1) above, an order under this section may—

(a) confer power on the Authority to determine for the purposes of the order the circumstances in which the carrying on of any activities is prohibited or restricted and to determine the activities to which any such prohibition or restriction applies;

(b) apply a prohibition or restriction in respect of any activities to cases where the activities are carried on without the consent of the Authority or in contravention of any conditions subject to which any such consent is given;

(c) provide that a contravention of a prohibition or restriction contained in the order or of a condition of a consent given for the purposes of any such prohibition or restriction shall be an offence the maximum penalties for which shall not exceed the penalties specified in subsection (6) of section 107 above;

(d) provide (subject to any regulations under subsection (4) below) for anything falling to be determined under the order by the Authority to be determined in accordance with such procedure and by reference to such matters and to the opinion of such persons as may be specified in the order;

(e) make different provision for different cases, including different provision in relation to different persons, circumstances or localities; and

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

(3) The power of the Secretary of State to make an order under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament; but the Secretary of State shall not make such an order except—

(a) in accordance with Schedule 7 to this Act; and

(b) on an application made in accordance with that Schedule by the Authority.

(4) The Secretary of State may, for the purposes of any orders under this section which require the consent of the Authority to the carrying on of any activities, by regulations make provision with respect to—

(a) applications for any such consent;

(b) the conditions of any such consent;

(c) the revocation or variation of any such consent;

(d) appeals against determinations on any such application;

(e) the exercise by the Secretary of State of any power conferred on the Authority by the orders;

(f) the imposition of charges where such an application has been made, such a consent has been given or anything has been done in pursuance of any such consent; and

(g) the registration of any such application or consent;

and, without prejudice to the generality of that power, regulations under this subsection may apply (with or without modifications) any enactment having effect in relation to consents under this Chapter.

(5) The reference in subsection (1) above to the entry of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into controlled waters shall not include a reference to the entry of nitrate into controlled waters as a result of, or of anything done in connection with, the use of any land for agricultural purposes.