Water Act 2003

Water Act 2003

2003 CHAPTER 37

Commentary on Sections

Part 1: Abstraction and Impounding

Sections 31 to 33 Miscellaneous

93. .Section 31: Bulk supplies.

This section permits the EA, in consultation with the Authority, to propose to a water undertaker that they enter into a bulk supply agreement with another water undertaker where that is necessary for the proper use of water resources. The Agency would be able to take any refusal to enter into such a bulk supply agreement into account when considering whether to grant abstraction and impounding licences.

94. Provisions in this section are devolved to the Assembly.

95. .Section 32: Visiting forces.

This section ensures that visiting forces are placed in no more favourable a position than UK forces when Crown exemption from abstraction or impoundment licensing is lifted.

96. .Section 33: Application of certain water resources provisions to this Act.

The changes to the abstraction and impounding regime introduced in Part 1 of the Act generally modify the WRA. But sections 3, 4 and 10 do not, and instead they will remain as free-standing provisions of the Water Act 2003. Sections 3,4 and 10 do, though, relate to the functions and powers under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the WRA. The provisions of section 33 therefore apply a number of the general provisions of the WRA to these sections as if they are part of the WRA. This includes for example, the power to obtain information from abstractors under section 201.