Water Act 2003 Explanatory Notes

Water Act 2003

2003 CHAPTER 37

Commentary on Sections

Part 3: Miscellaneous

Sections 74 to 80 Reservoirs

373. .Section 75: Extension of enforcement authority’s reserve powers.

Enforcement authorities have reserve powers that may be used in certain circumstances where reservoir undertakers have failed to comply with their responsibilities under the 1975 Act. For example, these powers may be used where, having failed to comply with a notice served by the authority, the undertaker refuses to implement recommendations made by a panel engineer in the interests of safety. This section enables the enforcement authority to step in and arrange for the works to be executed and to charge the costs of doing so to the undertaker. The reserve powers are not presently available in respect of reservoirs that are under construction or being enlarged and this section extends the power to encompass such cases. This section applies in England and Wales.