Water Resources Act 1991

169 Powers of entry for enforcement purposes

(1) Any person designated in writing for the purpose by either of the Ministers or by the Authority may—

(a) enter any premises or vessel for the purpose of ascertaining whether any provision of an enactment to which this section applies, of any subordinate legislation or other instrument made by virtue of any such enactment or of any byelaws made by the Authority is being or has been contravened; and

(b) carry out such inspections, measurements and tests on any premises or vessel entered by that person or of any articles found on any such premises or vessel, and take away such samples of water or effluent or of any land or articles, as that Minister or the Authority—

(i) considers appropriate for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a) above; and

(ii) has authorised that person to carry out or take away.

(2) The powers which by virtue of subsection (1) above are conferred in relation to any premises for the purpose of enabling either of the Ministers or the Authority to determine whether any provision made by or under any of the water pollution provisions of this Act is being or has been contravened shall include power, in order to obtain the information on which that determination may be made—

(a) to carry out experimental borings or other works on those premises; and

(b) to install and keep monitoring and other apparatus there.

(3) This section applies to any enactment contained in this Act and to any other enactment under or for the purposes of which the Authority carries out functions.