Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968

[^key-a50d8f51795aa8ba0245c9179bade5a4]: Words in s. 3A(2)(b) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 5(c); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-29ab33d361af1724e0559e213d802c48]: Words in s. 4 inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 6(a); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-79b51c15c200882fd6b1fa6c186e79f4]: Word in s. 4 inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 6(b); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-62306e104e78e3c4e59780165d4070e7]: Words in s. 41 inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 19; S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-65cad0c7329a5a68092b90ce11dedaa0]: Words in s. 45 inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 20(a); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-a0328bf6391e6867c999cec9f43b8993]: Words in s. 45 inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 20(b); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-6e331eba344986d293a42363aacc60cb]: Words in s. 46 inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 21(a); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-3705724cbf8e3cb8b8f282f844079184]: Words in s. 46 inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 21(b); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-8f2d0bbc38afd4cec6a4340cbd1049ab]: Words in s. 48(1)(a) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 22(a); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-fd585d0f9d5bc502909ae3b390ba7bc3]: Words in s. 48(1)(dd) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 22(b)(i); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-28589cd91965f48d7e520dfce75a744a]: Words in s. 48(1)(dd) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 22(b)(ii); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-2c928187f48715b74c9bb52edfa2309f]: Words in s. 48(1)(f)(i) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 22(c)(i); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-6e1dea9714441e9e4f01a3eab24b50c7]: Words in s. 48(1)(f)(ii) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 22(c)(ii); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-b4d38606a8901fee5a59b0da581b12ac]: Words in s. 59(1) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 23(a); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-111cfc49903fcbb3fdd794ddeca145b0]: Words in s. 59(3) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 23(b); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-d972ea47e7d87d339ea71bc8313574b3]: Words in s. 7(1) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 7; S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-0585fdae39b754cdbeed4a5b2be48d2c]: Words in s. 8(1) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 8(a); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-bc7b37b6ca73f6ce1a90f5997bd68899]: Words in s. 8(1) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 8(b); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-3db6403c08f515d1f0799ed290c70f09]: Sch. 1 para. 2 repealed (1.10.2009) by Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 5), s. 128(2), Sch. 3 Pt. 1 (with s. 127); S.S.I. 2009/319, art. 2(a), Sch. 1

[^key-b42c6b29f5894a44fae9dd2cbc387f1a]: Words in s. 59(3A) substituted (1.4.2011) by The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/211), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 2

[^M_F_2f6b61d8-3fd1-4d62-c516-e36f188515a2]: Words in s. 17(5) inserted (30.11.2007) by Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3), s. 38(1), Sch. 3 para. 15(d)(iii); S.S.I. 2007/512, art. 2(c)

[^key-f63fae3e88033f53d30e7078f2506583]: Words in Sch. 2 repealed (1.10.2009) by Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 5), s. 128(2), Sch. 3 Pt. 1 (with s. 127); S.S.I. 2009/319, art. 2(a), Sch. 1

[^key-a777b53c7a2150aa9394c6295f1de5d5]: S. 29(3)(p) inserted (10.6.2013 for specified purposes, 21.12.2013 in so far as not already in force) by Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 5), ss. 34(1), 56(1)(2); S.S.I. 2013/163, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2013/342, art. 2(c)

[^key-bd95dc055ca7b279daa39ecac74e4793]: S. 29A inserted (10.6.2013 for specified purposes, 21.12.2013 in so far as not already in force) by Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 5), ss. 34(2), 56(1)(2); S.S.I. 2013/163, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2013/342, art. 2(c)

[^key-e1b91fe6e6955b199856663f5386ebe4]: Pt. 2A inserted (10.6.2013 for specified purposes, 21.12.2013 in so far as not already in force) by Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 5), ss. 37, 56(1)(2); S.S.I. 2013/163, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2013/342, art. 2(c)

[^key-0e71d8b18a3568c7350a0e5fcc2bd426]: Ss. 46A, 46B inserted (21.12.2013) by Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 5), ss. 35(2), 56(1)(2); S.S.I. 2013/342, art. 2(c)

[^key-f7b8b94cb67e66e9f24ddca25e648fb1]: Words in s. 46(2) substituted (21.12.2013) by Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 5), ss. 35(1)(a), 56(1)(2); S.S.I. 2013/342, art. 2(c)

[^key-35f339540e21b0965a0aeb5005534e57]: S. 46(3) inserted (21.12.2013) by Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 5), ss. 35(1)(b), 56(1)(2); S.S.I. 2013/342, art. 2(c)

[^key-1139cbb3133fec8bdedc1808eb1e0afa]: Words in s. 48(1)(f) inserted (21.12.2013) by Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 5), ss. 36(a), 56(1)(2); S.S.I. 2013/342, art. 2(c)

[^key-6a66451e5ff32d10806774d1c60a71fa]: S. 48(1)(g)(h) inserted (21.12.2013) by Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 5), ss. 36(b), 56(1)(2); S.S.I. 2013/342, art. 2(c)

[^key-143307553566dcc407a0746fb780ca15]: S. 55(5) inserted (1.4.2017) by The Crown Estate Transfer Scheme 2017 (S.I. 2017/524), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 14(c)

[^key-376e30c97b99638915e9c93e6faed6ad]: Words in s. 55(3) inserted (1.4.2017) by The Crown Estate Transfer Scheme 2017 (S.I. 2017/524), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 14(a)

[^key-36aa1968cb3512c81b532facecf78619]: Words in s. 55(4)(a) inserted (1.4.2017) by The Crown Estate Transfer Scheme 2017 (S.I. 2017/524), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 14(b)

[^key-88992b983742bf579d295cf6527a3ec0]: Act restricted (1.9.2018) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/219), reg. 1, sch. 8 para. 39(2)(a)(ii) (with reg. 78, sch. 5 para. 2)

[^key-44b22e583595f41be49a6d0c360e0e3d]: Words in s. 29A(1) substituted (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 1(2) (with sch. 23)

[^key-ab5570f1f33e7ba9a4a71c9fe4f14926]: Words in s. 38A substituted (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 1(3) (with sch. 23)

[^key-124e0049a87c5671ef7dd161570dc925]: Words in s. 38C substituted (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 1(3) (with sch. 23)

[^key-b3ca7483bf598be53ac8601e8386f61c]: S. 38H heading substituted (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 1(4) (with sch. 23)

[^key-3ac508c58aa2478a301a521dd2e44fe8]: Words in s. 38H(3)(b) substituted (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 1(5)(c) (with sch. 23)

[^key-8eebfda2e00960f7ef394291d49ca873]: Words in s. 38H(1)(a) substituted (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 1(5)(b) (with sch. 23)

[^key-13b5f20b8089b4453ba4a8a81b50502c]: Words in s. 38H substituted (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 1(5)(a) (with sch. 23)

Exclusion from register of commercially confidential information

New discharge only with consent of the authority.

Power to extend Part II to other effluents.

Powers of entry.

Maintenance of public sewers and other works.

Authorisation of construction of certain private sewers etc.

Meaning of new discharge.

Exclusion from register of commercially confidential information

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maintenance of public sewers and other works.

Authorisation of construction of certain private sewers etc.

Meaning of new discharge.

Maintenance of public sewers and other works.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amendments and repeals.

Maintenance of public sewers and other works.

Construction etc. of public sewers and public sewage treatment works.

Construction etc. of public sewers and public sewage treatment works.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amendments and repeals.

Maintenance of public sewers and other works.

Power of local authority to close or alter public sewers etc.

Functions outwith the area of a local authority.

Agreements as to provision of sewers etc. for new premises.

Emptying of septic tanks.

Direction by local authority as to manner of construction of works.

Owner or occupier to remedy defects in drains and other works.

Vesting of sewers and other works in local authority.

Vesting of certain private sewers.

Local authority may take over private sewage treatment works.

Compensation for loss etc. resulting from exercise of powers under this Part of this Act.

Restriction on working minerals.

Right to discharge into public sewers.

New discharge only with consent of the authority.

Power to extend Part II to other effluents.

Breaking open of streets, etc.

Power to require occupier to permit works to be executed by owner.

Certain matter not to be passed into drains.

Powers of entry.

Restriction on disclosure of information.

Amendments and repeals.

Amendments and repeals.

Authorisation of construction of certain private sewers etc.

Power of local authority to close or alter public sewers etc.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Agreements as to provision of sewers etc. for new premises.

Loan of temporary sanitary conveniences.

Rights of owners and occupiers to connect with and drain into public sewers etc.

Rights of owners and occupiers to connect with and drain into sewers etc. of another local authority.

Owner or occupier to remedy defects in drains and other works.

Vesting of sewers and other works in local authority.

Vesting of certain private sewers.

Local authority may take over private sewage treatment works.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Protection for statutory undertakers.

Restriction on working minerals.

Right to discharge into public sewers.

Meaning of new discharge.

29A

• (1) In section 29(3)(p)—

• “pollutant” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Water Environment (River Basin Management Planning: Further Provision) (Scotland) Regulations 2013,

• “priority substance” means substance listed in Annex X of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (as amended from time to time).

• (2) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify the definitions in subsection (1).

• (3) Regulations may be made under subsection (2) only if the Scottish Ministers consider them to be necessary or expedient in consequence of any revocation or amendment of (as the case may be)—

• (a) the Regulations or Directive mentioned in subsection (1), or

• (b) any subsequent regulations made under section 20 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 or directive concerning the same subject-matter as that Directive.

• (4) Regulations under subsection (2) are subject to the negative procedure.

Exclusion from register of information affecting national security.

Exclusion from register of commercially confidential information

PART IIA — Private sewage treatment works

38A

• (1) This Part applies to any private sewage treatment works if the discharge of their contents is subject to an authorisation under the 2018 Regulations.

• (2) In this Part, “private works” means private sewage treatment works to which this Part applies.

38B

• (1) This Part prevails over any rule of law or real burden—

• (a) requiring the agreement, of any owner of common property, to the carrying out of maintenance of the property, or

• (b) concerning the recovery, by any owner of common property from another owner of the property, of the cost of such maintenance,

so far as the rule or burden is applicable in connection with measures of the kind to which section 38C(2) relates.

• (2) In subsection (1), “real burden” is to be construed in accordance with the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.

38C

• (1) Subsection (2) applies where two or more persons own any private works in common.

• (2) Any of the persons may take (or cause to be taken) any measures that the person considers necessary for ensuring that the works are properly maintained so that they comply with any applicable conditions under the 2018 Regulations.

• (3) Subsection (2) is subject to section 38D.

• (4) In subsection (2), the reference to being properly maintained includes being emptied as required from time to time.

38D

• (1) Before taking (or causing to be taken) any measures under section 38C(2), a person must serve on each of the other owners a notice—

• (a) giving the person's name and address,

• (b) specifying the private works in question,

• (c) in addition to describing the measures to be taken, stating—

• (i) why the measures are to be taken,

• (ii) when the measures are to be taken,

• (d) containing—

• (i) an estimate of the cost of the measures,

• (ii) a note showing the proportion of that cost for which each owner would be liable (along with their names and addresses),

• (e) directing the reader to this Part.

• (2) The measures described in the notice may be taken under section 38C(2) at any time after the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which it is duly served (or, if it is so served on different days, the last of those days).

• (3) Unless the notice has expired, the measures may be so taken—

• (a) with or without the agreement of any or all of the other owners,

• (b) subject to any review or appeal under section 38E.

• (4) The notice expires—

• (a) at the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which it is duly served, or

• (b) if it is extended in any review or appeal under section 38E, at the end of the period of extension.

• (5) A notice under subsection (1) may be served by two or more persons acting together.

38E

• (1) A person on whom a notice is served under section 38D(1) may apply to the sheriff for a review of the notice, if aggrieved by the serving of the notice or its terms.

• (2) An application under subsection (1) must be made—

• (a) by way of summary application,

• (b) within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice is duly served.

• (3) In the application, the sheriff may—

• (a) uphold, vary or quash the notice,

• (b) make any further order necessary.

• (4) The sheriff's decision in the application may be appealed to the sheriff principal, but only on a point of law.

• (5) The sheriff principal's determination of the review is final.

• (6) An application under subsection (1) may be—

• (a) made by two or more persons acting together,

• (b) heard by the sheriff along with another such application relating to the same notice.

38F

• (1) Where measures have been taken under section 38C(2)—

• (a) each of the owners of the private works is liable for a proportion of the actual cost of taking them, and

• (b) any of those owners is entitled to recover from any of the other owners the proportion of that cost for which the other owner is liable.

• (2) Subsection (1) is subject to subsections (3) to (8).

• (3) The proportion of the cost mentioned in subsection (1)(a) for which each owner is liable is the equivalent to the owner's pro indiviso share of the ownership of the private works.

• (4) Liability accrues to an owner under subsection (1)(a) only when there has been duly served—

• (a) a notice under section 38D(1) relating to the measures, and

• (b) a notice under subsection (5) relating to the measures.

• (5) Before exercising the entitlement to make recovery under subsection (1)(b), an owner must serve on each of the other owners a notice containing—

• (a) a statement of the cost mentioned in subsection (1)(a),

• (b) a note confirming the proportion of that cost for which each owner is liable in accordance with subsection (3) (along with their names and addresses).

• (6) The entitlement of an owner to make recovery under subsection (1)(b) is not—

• (a) established unless the owner has—

• (i) incurred the cost mentioned in subsection (1)(a), and

• (ii) duly served a notice under subsection (5),

• (b) exercisable until after the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the notice under subsection (5) is duly served (or, if it is so served on different days, the last of those days).

• (7) A notice under subsection (5) is valid only if it is accompanied by an invoice or other clear evidence of the cost mentioned in subsection (1)(a).

• (8) Section 38E applies in relation to a notice under subsection (5) as it does in relation to one under section 38D(1), except that in relation to a notice under subsection (5) a review under section 38E is competent only if the actual cost of the measures grossly exceeds the estimate of the cost of them contained in the notice under section 38D(1).

38G

• (1) Subsection (2) applies to a person who is liable under section 38F(1)(a).

• (2) The person does not stop being so liable merely because the person ceases to be an owner of the private works.

• (3) Subsection (4) applies to a person who is entitled to make recovery under section 38F(1)(b).

• (4) The person does not stop being so entitled merely because the person ceases to be an owner of the private works.

38H

• (1) In this Part—

• (a) “the 2018 Regulations” means the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018,

• (b) a reference to an authorisation under the 2018 Regulations is to an authorisation as defined by regulation 2 of those Regulations,

• (c) a reference to any conditions under the 2018 Regulations is to any conditions of an authorisation under those Regulations.

• (2) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify—

• (a) subsection (1),

• (b) sections 38A(1) and 38C(2).

• (3) Regulations may be made under subsection (2) only if the Scottish Ministers consider them to be necessary or expedient in consequence of any revocation or amendment of—

• (a) the 2018 Regulations, or

• (b) any subsequent regulations made under section 18 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.

• (4) Regulations under subsection (2) are subject to the negative procedure.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Execution of works by local authorities for other persons.

Certain matter not to be passed into drains.

Offence as to fat, oil or grease

46A

• (1) A person commits an offence if—

• (a) the person passes, or permits to be passed, any relevant substance from trade premises into—

• (i) a public sewer, or

• (ii) a drain connecting with such a sewer, and

• (b) the condition in subsection (2) is met.

• (2) The condition is that the relevant substance (alone or in combination with any matter with which it comes, or may come, into contact)—

• (a) interferes with, or is likely to interfere with, the free flow of the contents of the sewer, or

• (b) adversely affects, or is likely so to affect, the treatment or disposal of the contents of the sewer.

• (3) But no offence is committed under subsection (1) if the relevant substance is passed in accordance with the provisions of Part II of this Act.

• (4) In subsections (1) to (3), “relevant substance” means fat, oil or grease.

• (5) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

• (a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding £40,000 (or both),

• (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both).

46B

• (1) Subsection (5) applies if—

• (a) an owner or occupier of trade premises passes, or permits to be passed, any relevant substance from the premises into—

• (i) a public sewer, or

• (ii) a drain connecting with such a sewer, and

• (b) the condition in subsection (2) is met.

• (2) The condition is that, as a result—

• (a) the sewer or drain is damaged or blocked, or

• (b) the free flow of the contents of the sewer is otherwise interfered with.

• (3) But subsection (5) does not apply if the relevant substance is passed in accordance with the provisions of Part II of this Act.

• (4) In subsections (1) and (3), “relevant substance” means fat, oil or grease.

• (5) Scottish Water may recover, from the owner or (as the case may be) occupier, any expenses that it reasonably incurs in investigating or remedying the damage, blockage or interference.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Procedure on appeals to Secretary of State.