Water Resources Act 1991

87 Discharges into and from public sewers etc. E+W

[F1 (1) This section applies for the purpose of determining liability where sewage effluent is discharged as mentioned in subsection (3) or (4) of section 85 above from any sewer or works (“the discharging sewer”) vested in a sewerage undertaker (“the discharging undertaker”).

(1A) If the discharging undertaker did not cause, or knowingly permit, the discharge it shall nevertheless be deemed to have caused the discharge if—

(a) matter included in the discharge was received by it into the discharging sewer or any other sewer or works vested in it;

(b) it was bound (either unconditionally or subject to conditions which were observed) to receive that matter into that sewer or works; and

(c) subsection (1B) below does not apply.

(1B) This subsection applies where the sewage effluent was, before being discharged from the discharging sewer, discharged through a main connection into that sewer or into any other sewer or works vested in the discharging undertaker by another sewerage undertaker (“the sending undertaker”) under an agreement having effect between the discharging undertaker and the sending undertaker under section 110A of the Water Industry Act 1991.

(1C) Where subsection (1B) above applies, the sending undertaker shall be deemed to have caused the discharge if, although it did not cause, or knowingly permit, the sewage effluent to be discharged into the discharging sewer, or into any other sewer or works of the discharging undertaker—

(a) matter included in the discharge was received by it into a sewer or works vested in it; and

(b) it was bound (either unconditionally or subject to conditions which were observed) to receive that matter into that sewer or works.]

(2) A sewerage undertaker shall not be guilty of an offence under section 85 above by reason only of the fact that a discharge from a sewer or works vested in the undertaker contravenes conditions of a consent relating to the discharge if—

(a) the contravention is attributable to a discharge which another person caused or permitted to be made into the sewer or works;

(b) the undertaker either was not bound to receive the discharge into the sewer or works or was bound to receive it there subject to conditions which were not observed; and

(c) the undertaker could not reasonably have been expected to prevent the discharge into the sewer or works.

(3) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under section 85 above in respect of a discharge which he caused or permitted to be made into a sewer or works vested in a sewerage undertaker if the undertaker was bound to receive the discharge there either unconditionally or subject to conditions which were observed.

[F2 (4) In this section “main connection” has the same meaning as in section 110A of the Water Industry Act 1991.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 87(1)(1A)(1B)(1C) substituted (1.7.1992) for s. 87(1) by Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43), s. 46(1)(3); Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, dated 29th May 1992

F2 S. 87(4) inserted (1.7.1992) by Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43), s. 46(2)(3); Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, dated 29 May 1992

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 87 applied (with modifications) (16.3.1992) by Avon Weir Act 1992 (c. v), s. 18(6) (with s. 61)

S. 87 applied (with modifications) (7.3.1995) by S.I. 1995/519, art. 16(5)

C2 S. 87(1) amended (27.8.1993) by 1993 c. 12, ss. 40, 51(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I para.9 (with s. 46).