Water (Scotland) Act 1980

Part I — Central Authority

Duty of Secretary of State

1

It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State and of Scottish Water when exercising their respective functions or powers under or by virtue of this Act—

• (a) to promote the conservation and effective use of the water resources of, and the provision of adequate water supplies throughout, Scotland; and

• (b) to secure the collection, preparation, publication and dissemination of information and statistics relating to such resources and supplies.

Power to require surveys and formulation of proposals

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Part II — Duties of Water Authorities

Water authorities

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Alteration of limits of supply

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Maps of limits of supply

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Water works code.

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• (1) It shall be the duty of Scottish Water to provide a supply of wholesome water to every part of its limits of supply where a supply of water is required for domestic purposes and can be provided at a reasonable cost.

• (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), Scottish Water shall provide a supply of wholesome water in pipes to every part of its limits of supply where a supply of water is required for domestic purposes and shall , subject to subsection (2A), take the pipes affording that supply to such point or points as will enable the buildings for which a supply is required for domestic purposes to be connected thereto at a reasonable cost; but this subsection shall not require Scottish Water to do anything which is not practicable at a reasonable cost or to provide such a supply to any part of its limits of supply where such a supply is already available at such point or points.

• (2A) Subsection (2), so far as requiring Scottish Water to take pipes to the point or points referred to in that subsection, shall not apply for so long as there is inforce an agreement between Scottish Water and some other person for that person to take the pipes referred to in that subsection to that point or those points.

• (2B) Subsections (1) and (2), so far as excepting from the duties under those subsections things which cannot be done at a reasonable cost, shall not apply tosuch cases or descriptions of case as the Scottish Ministers may direct.

• (2C) In determining what is a reasonable cost for the purpose of subsection (2) so far as excepting from the duty under that subsection things which cannot be done at areasonable cost, the costs to be taken into account include the costs of—

• (a) constructing such other water mains, communication pipes and other waterworks, and

• (b) carrying out such other work,

as Scottish Water considers necessary in consequence of the connection referred to in that subsection.

• (2D) Subject to subsection (2C), any question as to what is a reasonable cost for the purposes of this section shall be determined in accordance with regulations madeby the Scottish Ministers.

• (2E) Such regulations may, in particular, make provision as to—

• (a) the matters to be taken into, or left out of, account,

• (b) the criteria to be applied,

• (c) the method of calculation to be adopted,

in determining what is a reasonable cost for those purposes, and may make different provision for different cases and descriptions of case.

• (3) If any question arises under this section as to—

• (za) whether a reasonable cost has been properly determined in accordance with regulations made under subsection (2D), or

• (a) whether a supply of water can be provided at a reasonable cost, or

• (b) whether anything is or is not practicable at a reasonable cost, or

• (c) the point or points to which pipes must be taken in order to enable buildings to be connected therewith at a reasonable cost,

the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, if requested to do so by any person aggrieved, shall, after consultation with that person and with Scottish Water, determine that question and Scottish Water shall give effect to its determination.

• (3A) The Commission—

• (a) shall prepare a statement which specifies the procedure to be followed for the purposes of its determining questions under subsection (3), and

• (b) may from time to time revise the statement.

• (3B) In preparing or revising the statement, the Commission shall consult Scottish Water and such other persons as it considers appropriate.

• (3C) The Commission shall, on payment of such reasonable fee (if any) as the Commission may determine, send a copy of the statement to any person who requests it.

• (4) Scottish Water shall also provide a supply of water for the purpose of complying with any other obligation imposed on it by this Act and may, if it thinks fit, provide a supply to enable it to exercise any of the powers conferred on it by this Act or for any other purpose which it considers is in the interests of the area comprising its limits of supply.

• (5) The duties imposed by subsections (1), (2) and (4) shall not require Scottish Water to do anything which is prejudicial to its compliance with—

• (a) any directions given to it under section 56 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 3) so far as setting objectives of a type referred to in section 56A of that Act, or

• (b) a statement of policy issued under section 29D of that Act.

Power to require supplies for refrigerating apparatus, etc., to be taken by meter.

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• (1) In this Act a supply of water for domestic purposes means a sufficient supply for drinking, washing, cooking, central heating and sanitary purposes but not for any bath having a capacity in excess of 100 gallons, and includes—

• (a) a supply for the purposes of any profession carried on in any premises the greater part of which is used as a house; and

• (b) where the water is drawn from a tap inside a house and no hosepipe or similar apparatus is used, a supply for watering a garden, for horses kept for private use and for washing vehicles kept for private use.

• (2) A supply of water under subsection (1) does not include a supply of water for the business of a laundry, or any business of preparing food or beverages for consumption otherwise than on the premises.

• (3) “Domestic purposes” in any local enactment relating to the supply of water shall be construed in accordance with sub-sections (1) and (2).

Water supplied for domestic purposes to be wholesome

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Scottish Water shall provide in its mains and communication pipes a supply of wholesome water sufficient for the domestic purposes of all owners and occupiers of premises within its limits of supply who are entitled to a supply for those purposes.

Supply of water for non-domestic purposes

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• (1) Subject to the following provisions of this Act, Scottish Water shall give a supply of water on reasonable terms and conditions for purposes other than domestic purposes to the owner or occupier of any premises within its limits of supply who requests it to give such a supply to those premises.

• (2) Scottish Water shall not be required to give a supply of water in accordance with subsection (1) if its ability to meet existing obligations to supply water for any purposes or probable future requirements to supply water for domestic purposes, without having to incur unreasonable expenditure in constructing new waterworks for the purpose, would thereby be endangered.

• (2A) Where a supply of water has been made to premises under subsection (2) of section 16 of the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 3)but—

• (a) the arrangements for the supply (made between the occupier of the premises and the water services provider who made the related request under subsection (1)of that section in respect of the premises) are at an end, or are to come to an end, in consequence of non-payment of charges owed to the provider in relation to the watersupplied; or

• (b) the supply is discontinued (or is to be discontinued) under section 18(5) of that Act,

Scottish Water shall not be required to give a supply of water to the premises in accordance with subsection (1) if it is of the opinion that there is noreasonable prospect of recovering the charges (or any significant proportion of the charges) which it would be entitled to recover in relation to that supply of waterwere it given.

• (2B) Where Scottish Water decides, by virtue of subsection (2A), not to give a supply of water to premises, the occupier of the premises may by notice require the WaterIndustry Commission for Scotland to review that decision.

• (2C) In a review under subsection (2B), the Commission may, having regard to any representations made to it by the parties—

• (a) confirm the decision of Scottish Water; or

• (b) direct Scottish Water to give a supply of water to the premises in accordance with subsection (1),

and the determination of the Commission in the review shall be final.

• (3) Scottish Water may require, as a condition of giving a supply of water under this section, that the person requesting the supply shall enter into an agreement undertaking to pay to it in respect of each year a sum not exceeding one-eighth of the cost of providing and laying the necessary mains (less any amounts received by Scottish Water in respect of water supplied whether for domestic or non-domestic purposes in that year from those mains) until the expiration of a period of 12 years or such lesser period as may appear to Scottish Water to be appropriate.

• (4) Any question arising as to the terms and conditions on which water is to be supplied (not being a question as respect charges for the water which is to be supplied) under this section and any question whether Scottish Water is justified in refusing to give a supply shall in default of agreement, be referred to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State may determine it himself or, if he thinks fit, refer it for determination by arbitration.

• (5) Where Scottish Water is required to give a supply of water under this section, the powers of Scottish Water and of persons supplied or proposed to be supplied by it to lay mains and pipes for providing a supply of water for domestic purposes and to break open roads for that purpose shall apply for the purpose of the provision of a supply under this section.

• (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Byelaws for preventing misuse of water.

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• (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a local authority or Scottish Water . . . shall make full compensation to any person who has sustained damage by reason of the exercise by them or it of any of their or its powers under this Act in relation to a matter as to which he has not himself been in default.

• (1A) The escape of water, however caused, . . . from one of Scottish Water’s . . . communication or supply pipes or mains shall for the purposes of subsection (1) above be taken to have been brought about by the exercise by it of powers under this Act.

• (2) Any question arising under this section as to the fact of damage or as to the amount of compensation shall, in case of dispute, be determined by arbitration.

• (3) A claim for compensation under this section shall not be maintainable unless it is made within 24 months after the date on which it is alleged to have arisen.

• (4) The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to any other provisions in this Act relating to compensation.

• (5) Without prejudice to any right to compensation other than under subsection (1) above, in that subsection “person” does not, as regards compensation payable under that subsection by virtue of subsection (1A) above, include—

• (a) statutory undertakers as defined in section 214 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;

• (b) roads authorities as defined in section 151(1) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;

• (c) bridge authorities as defined in section 147 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991;

• (d) road works authority as defined in section 108 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991;

• (e) persons on whom a right to compensation under section 141 of the said Act of 1991 is conferred.

• (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Byelaws for preventing pollution of water.

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• (1) If—

• (a) a complaint is made to the Secretary of State that Scottish Water has failed—

• (i) to do anything which it is required to do by or under this Act,

• (ii) to give an adequate supply of water either as respects quantity or quality within its limits of supply, or has failed to give any supply which it has been lawfully required to give, or

• (iii) to take such steps as are in the circumstances reasonable to obtain new powers or to extend its existing powers for the purpose of remedying any such failure as is mentioned in paragraph (ii), or

• (b) the Secretary of State is of opinion that an investigation should be made as to whether Scottish Water has failed in any of those matters,

he may cause a local inquiry to be held into the matter.

• (2) If after a local inquiry has been held in pursuance of subsection (1), the Secretary of State is satisfied that there has been such a failure on the part of Scottish Water , he may make an order declaring it to be in default and directing it for the purpose of remedying the default to discharge such of its functions in such a manner and within such time or times as may be specified in the order or, as the case may be, to take such steps within such time or times as may be specified in the order to obtain new powers or to extend its existing powers.

• (3) If Scottish Water fails to comply with any requirements of an order made under subsection (2) within the time specified therein for compliance with that requirement—

• (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (b) the Court of Session may on the application of the Lord Advocate on behalf of the Secretary of State order specific performance of the functions and do otherwise as to the Court appears to be just.

• (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part III — Powers of Water Authorities for the purposes of Water Supply

Power to restrict use of hose pipes.

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

Byelaws for preventing misuse of water.

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• (1) Scottish Water may enter into an agreement with any other persons . . . , for the giving by those other persons, and the taking by Scottish Water, of a supply of water in bulk for any period and on any terms and conditions, . . .

• (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (3) For the purpose of laying any pipes or installing any apparatus connected therewith, being pipes or apparatus required for giving or taking a supply of water in pursuance of an agreement . . . made under this section, Scottish Water may exercise, . . . the like powers with respect to laying mains and breaking open roads as are exercisable by it under this Act for the purpose of laying mains, but subject to the like conditions and obligations.

• (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (6) Nothing in this section shall affect any right of a navigation authority under any enactment to prohibit, or impose restrictions on, the supply of water in bulk by Scottish Water.

Power of water authority to give guarantee for supply of water

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Scottish Water may undertake to pay to any person supplying water, or guarantee payment to any such person of, such periodical or other sums as may be agreed as a consideration for the giving by that person of a supply of water, so far as he can lawfully do so, within any part of the limits of supply of Scottish Water, and the execution by him of any works necessary for that purpose.

Power to acquire land

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Powers of survey and search for water on land

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• (1) The Scottish Ministers may, on application made to them by Scottish Water, authorise it to survey, in accordance with this section—

• (a) any land which it proposes to acquire for the purposes of its water undertaking or proposed water undertaking; or

• (b) any land in, on or over which it is proposed to lay a water main.

• (2) Notice of any application under subsection (1) shall be given by Scottish Water to the owner and the occupier of the land, and the Secretary of State shall, before giving his authority under subsection (1), consider any representations made to him by any such owner or occupier within 14 days after the receipt of the notice.

• (3) Where Scottish Water is authorised to survey any land under this section, any officer of Scottish Water authorised for the purpose shall, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter on and survey the land.

• (4) Section 38(3) to (7) shall apply to any right of entry conferred by this section.

• (5) Admission to any land shall not be demanded in the exercise of any right under subsection (3) unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier; but where such notice has been given on the first occasion on which the right of entry is exercised, no further notice shall be required before entering on the land on a subsequent occasion in connection with the completion of the survey.

• (6) The power to survey land under this section shall include power to carry out experimental borings or other works for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the sub-soil or the presence of underground water therein or the quality or quantity of such water, and to reinstate the land after carrying out any such works.

• (7) A person shall not carry out any works authorised by subsection (6) on land which is occupied unless at least seven days’ notice of his intention to do so has been given to the occupier of the land; and if the occupier of the land objects to the proposed works on the ground that the carrying out thereof would be seriously detrimental to the carrying on of any undertaking, trade or business carried on by him on that land, the works shall not be carried out except with the authority of the Secretary of State.

• (8) If any damage or injury is caused by the escape of water from any land on which works have been carried out in pursuance of this section, not being damage in respect of which compensation is payable under section 10, nothing in this section shall be construed as exonerating Scottish Water from any liability in respect of that damage to which it would be subject if the works had been carried out otherwise than in the exercise of statutory powers.

Acquisition of water rights

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• (1) Scottish Water may acquire by agreement rights to take water from any stream or other source . . .

• (2) The Secretary of State may, on the application of Scottish Water, by order provide for the compulsorily acquisition by it of such rights to take water from any stream or other source as may be specified in the order; and the order may contain such incidental, consequential and supplementary provisions as the Secretary of State thinks necessary or expedient for the purposes of the order, and such provisions may (but without prejudice to the generality of this subsection) include provisions enabling Scottish Water to carry on any business or trade ancillary to taking of water; and where such provisions include a provision requiring the payment of compensation, the amount of such compensation shall, in case of dispute, be settled in the manner provided by the Lands Clauses Acts with reference to taking of land otherwise than by agreement.

• (3) Where the acquisition of water rights by Scottish Water under this Part will result in the impounding of any stream—

• (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (b) the Secretary of State shall, in any order for the compulsory acquisition of such rights, prescribe the quantity of compensation water to be provided by Scottish Water, and shall incorporate in the order the appropriate provisions of Part III of Schedule 4 subject to such modifications and adaptations as he thinks fit.

• (4) Where the acquisition of water rights by Scottish Water under this Part will, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, substantially reduce the flow of any stream—

• (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (b) the Secretary of State shall in any order for the compulsory acquisition of such rights prescribe the extent to which and the circumstances in which water may be taken.

• (5) Subject to subsections (5A) and (5B) in assessing the quantity of compensation water to be provided under any such . . . order or in determining the extent to which and the circumstances in which water may be taken under any such . . . order, the Secretary or State shall have regard to all the circumstances of the particular case, including—

• (a) the interests of public health;

• (b) the character and flow of the stream;

• (c) the extent to which the stream is or may in the future be used for industrial purposes or for the purposes of any public undertaking or for fisheries, water supply by other undertakers, agriculture, transport and navigation;

• (d) the effect on land drainage or on any canal or inland navigation of any alterations in the flow of the stream;

and shall secure, so far as practicable, the protection of the rights of riparian owners and of other owners of land or salmon fishings.

• (5A) Before making an order for the compulsory acquisition of water rights, and in considering the matters referred to in subsections (3) to (5), the Scottish Ministers shall–

• (a) obtain and have regard to the advice of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on matters relating to the protection of the water environment (and in particular as to the extent to, and the circumstances in, which water may be taken and the quantity of compensation water to be provided); and

• (b) have regard to the purposes of Part 1 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 3).

• (5B) In the event that the provisions of an order for the compulsory acquisition of water rights which makes provision on matters relating to the protection of the water environment and the conditions of an authorisation granted under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2005 differ, and cannot reasonably be reconciled, the relevant provisions of that order shall be treated as modified to the extent necessary to be consistent with the conditions of that authorisation.

• (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (7) The provisions of Part I of Schedule 1 shall apply to the making of applications and orders under subsection (2).

Reference to arbitration.

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• (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, an order under section 17 may authorise Scottish Water to acquire compulsorily such land as may be necessary for the purposes of the order, being land which Scottish Water could be authorised to acquire under section 47 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 3) .

• (2) The provisions of Schedule 2 shall have effect in relation to an order under section 17 which authorises any such acquisition of land.

Transfer from one authority to another

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Power to hold and dispose of land

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Power to carry out works

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• (1) Without prejudice to any other powers which it may have, Scottish Water may, for the purposes of providing a supply of water under this Act and subject to its provisions—

• (a) construct, alter, acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise, or renew or maintain, waterworks;

• (b) so acquire any undertaking belonging to persons, . . . , who are supplying or are authorised to supply water;

• (c) so acquire premises to be used for the purposes of Scottish Water and maintain such premises;

• (d) contract with any person for a supply by him of water in bulk or otherwise; or

• (e) erect and maintain a house for the use of a person employed by it for the purposes of its undertaking.

• (2) For the avoidance of doubt, all waterworks constructed in pursuance of subsection (1) above (whether before or after the commencement of this subsection)vest in Scottish Water.

Incidental powers of local authorities.

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• (1) The provisions of Part I of Schedule 3 shall have effect in relation to the breaking open of roads by Scottish Water for the purpose of carrying out any works which it is authorised to execute by or under this Act or any local enactment incorporating any provisions of Schedule 4.

• (2) Paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 has effect in relation to works carried out by any person—

• (a) in pursuance of an authorisation under section 23A(1), or

• (b) in connection with the management, maintenance or renewal of a main or communication pipe laid by that person in pursuance of such an authorisation and vested in that person,

as it has in relation to works carried out by Scottish Water.

Power to lay mains, etc.

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• (1) Scottish Water or ... may for the purposes of its functions lay a main—

• (a) in, under or over any roads or under any cellar or vault below any roads after giving reasonable notice to —

• (i) where the road is a public road, the roads authority; and

• (ii) in any other case, the authority or person responsible for the maintenance of the road, or, if no authority or person is so responsible, to the owners of the solum of the road,, and

• (b) in, on or over any land not forming part of a road, after giving reasonable notice to the owner and the occupier of that land;

and may from time to time inspect, repair, maintain, alter, or renew or may at any time remove a main previously laid whether by virtue of this section or otherwise.

• (1ZA) Section 192 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c.65)(service of notices) shall apply to notices served by Scottish Water under subsection (1) above relating to land as it applies to notices served by a local authority relating to premises.

• (1A) If within two months after the service of a notice under subsection (1)(b) above the owner or occupier objects to Scottish Water about the proposed works (and that objection is not withdrawn), Scottish Water shall not proceed to lay the main but shall refer the matter by summary application to the sheriff, who may—

• (a) grant consent to the proposed works, either unconditionally or subject to such terms and conditions as he thinks just; or

• (b) withhold his consent;

and the decision of the sheriff on the matter shall be final.

• (2) Where Scottish Water ... in the exercise of its powers under this section lay a main in, on or over any land not forming part of a road, or inspect, repair, maintain, alter, renew or remove a main laid in or over any such land, it shall from time to time pay compensation to every person interested in that land for any damage done to or injurious affection of that land by reason of the laying, inspection, repair, maintenance, alteration, renewal or removal of the main; and any question as to the amount of compensation to be paid under this subsection shall, in case of dispute, be determined by arbitration.

• (2A) In relation to a main not vested in Scottish Water, Scottish Water may recover from the person in whom the main is vested any expenses reasonably incurred by Scottish Water under subsection (1) or (2) in connection with the inspection, repair, maintenance, alteration, renewal or removal of the main.

• (2B) In relation to a main laid by any person in pursuance of an authorisation under section 23A(1), subsections (1) and (2) of this section, so far as relating to the inspection, repair, maintenance, alteration, renewal or removal of a main, apply to that person as they apply to Scottish Water.

• (3) Scottish Water ... may erect and maintain in any road notices indicating the position of underground water fittings used for controlling the flow of water through its mains whether laid by virtue of this section or otherwise and may affix such a notice to any house or other building, or any wall or fence.

• (4) In the case of works in respect of which notice is required to be given under section 114 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (notice of starting date of road works), notice duly given to a person in accordance with that section and section 156 of that Act (service of notice) shall be treated as reasonable notice for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above.

• (5) For the avoidance of doubt, all mains laid in pursuance of subsection (1) above (whether laid before or after the commencement of this subsection) vestin Scottish Water.

Communication and supply pipes

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• (1) Where a service pipe is required to be laid for the purpose of supplying water to premises for domestic purposes, the water authority providing the supply shall lay the communication pipe and also so much of the supply pipe as is to be laid in a road.

• (2) The provisions of Part II of Schedule 3 shall apply to all water authorities.

• (3) All communication pipes whether laid before or after the commencement of this Act shall vest in the water authority and the authority shall at their own expense carry out any necessary work of maintenance, repair or renewal of such pipes and any work on their mains incidental thereto.

• (4) The water authority shall also carry out any such necessary works in the case of so much of any supply pipe as is laid in a roadand is not, by virtue of any of subsections (5) to (8) below, vested in them and may recover from the owner of the premises the expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing, but without prejudice to the rights and obligations as between themselves of the owner and the occupier of the premises and to the terms and conditions of any such agreement as is mentioned in subsection (8) below.

• (5) Where the laying of a supply pipe is completed after such day as the Secretary of State may under this subsection by order appoint, so much of that pipe as may lie between a communication pipe with which it connects and the curtilage of the premises supplied shall, on such completion, vest in the water authority in whom is vested the communication pipe as shall any apparatus used wholly or mainly in connection with that supply pipe; and a supply pipe in so far as so lying is, together with any apparatus so used in connection with it, referred to in the following provisions of this section as a “relevant supply pipe”.

• (6) Subject to subsection (7) below, on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint, a relevant supply pipe which is not then vested in any water authority (and whose laying is complete) shall vest in the water authority in whom the communication pipe is vested.

• (7) Subsection (6) above shall have no effect in relation to any relevant supply pipe in respect of which notice is both given and not withdrawn, within the period of three months before the day appointed under that subsection—

• (a) to the water authority in question by the person (or as the case may be any one of the persons) in whom the pipe is, or will immediately before that day be, vested stating that he does not wish the pipe to vest in the water authority under that subsection; or

• (b) to such person (or as the case may be persons) by the water authority stating that the pipe is inappropriate for the purpose of supplying water to the premises, whether by reason of its state of repair or otherwise,

but at any time after the appointed day the person, or as the case may be persons, in whom the pipe is vested may by notice specify a day on which he desires (or they desire) that the pipe shall vest in the authority and if the pipe is on that specified day appropriate for the purpose of supplying water to the premises it shall vest accordingly.

• (8) If a relevant supply pipe does not vest in a water authority by virtue of subsection (6) or (7) above, the pipe may nevertheless vest by agreement in the authority—

• (a) on such terms and conditions; and

• (b) as from such day after the appointed day,

as the person (or persons) and the water authority consider appropriate.

• (9) The water authority shall, at their own expense, carry out any necessary work of maintenance, repair or renewal of relevant supply pipes vested in them by virtue of any of subsections (5) to (7) above; but this subsection is without prejudice to the terms and conditions of any such agreement as is mentioned in subsection (8) above.

• (10) Any dispute arising under subsection (7) above as to whether—

• (a) a notice under paragraph (b) of that subsection should be withdrawn as unjustified;

• (b) apparatus is used wholly or mainly in connection with a supply pipe; or

• (c) on a specified day a relevant supply pipe is appropriate for the purpose of supplying water to the premises,

shall be referred by the person or persons in whom the pipe is vested to the Secretary of State, who may determine the dispute himself or, if he thinks fit, refer it for determination by arbitration.

Power of authority to provide public wells

25

• (1) A local authority or Scottish Water may construct and maintain public pumps, wells, stand-pipes or other works for supplying water for the use of the inhabitants within their area or, as the case may be, its limits of supply.

• (2) A local authority may erect and maintain or authorise to be erected and maintained in any road or public place within their area any drinking fountain or trough; but where the Secretary of State is the roads authoritythere shall be no such erection by the the local authority without his consent which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Power to close, or restrict use of, wells

26

If a local authorityare or Scottish Water is satisfied that—

• (a) any public well, drinking fountain or other work within their area or, as the case may be, its limits of supply and vested in them or, as the case may be, it or any work constructed under section 25 is no longer required, or

• (b) the water obtained therefrom is so polluted as to be injurious or dangerous to health and that it is not reasonably practicable to remedy the cause of the pollution,

they may close the well, fountain or other work or restrict the use of the water obtained from it.

Power to close, or restrict use of water from, polluted source

27

• (1) If a local authority are of opinion that the water in or obtained from any source of supply not vested in them, being water which is or is likely to be used within their area for domestic purposes or in the preparation of food or drink for human consumption, is or is likely to become so polluted as to be injurious or dangerous to health, they may apply to the sheriff who, after giving the person to whom the source of supply belongs and any other person alleged to have control of the source of supply an opportunity of being heard, may make—

• (a) an order directing the source of supply to be permanently or temporarily closed or cut off, or

• (b) an order directing the water from the the source of supply to be used for certain purposes only, or

• (c) such other order as appears to him to be necessary to prevent injury or danger to the health of persons using the water or consuming food or drink prepared with or from the water.

• (2) The sheriff shall hear any person using the water who claims to be heard and may cause the water to be analysed and examined at the cost of the local authority.

• (3) If a person on whom an order is made under this section fails to comply with it the sheriff may, on the application of the local authority, authorise them to do whatever may be necessary for giving effect to the order, and any expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing may be recovered by them from the person in default.

Provisions as to the position of stopcocks.

28

• (1) For the purpose of enabling Scottish Water to supply water under this Part the following provisions of Schedule 4 shall, subject to any necessary modifications, apply to this Part, that is to say—

• (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (b) Part V;

• (c) Part VII;

• (d) Part VIII; and

• (e) sections 40, 41 and 45 of Part IX.

• (2) For the purposes of construction of any reservoir, filter or distribution tank or works connected therewith, sections 25 to 37 of the Railways Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845 (which relate to the temporary occupation of lands near the railway during its construction) shall apply to this Part subject to the modifications that for references to the company, to the railway and to the centre of the railway there shall be substituted respectively references to Scottish Water, to the reservoir, filter, distribution tank or works and to the boundaries of the reservoir, filter, distribution tank or works, and for any reference to a justice or justices there shall be substituted a reference to the sheriff, and the prescribed limits shall be 200 yards from such boundaries.

Application of enactments by order

29

• (1) The Secretary of State may by any order under section . . . 17 apply to any water undertaking to which the order relates such of the provisions contained in Schedule 4 as appear to him to be appropriate, subject to such modifications and adaptations as may be specified in the order.

• (2) The Secretary of State may at any time by order apply the provisions of Schedule 4 or any of them to the undertaking of Scottish Water, subject to such modifications and adaptations as may be specified in the order, and may by the order repeal any provision previously applicable to the undertaking to the extent to which it appears to him, having regard to the provisions of this Act which apply or are applied by the order to the undertaking, to be no longer required, or amend any provision previously applicable to the undertaking to any extent which appears to him necessary to bring it into conformity with the said provisions of this Act.

• (3) The provisions of Part I of Schedule 1 shall apply to an order made under subsection (2) on the application of Scottish Water , and the provisions of Part II of that Schedule shall apply to an order so made without any such application.

Exemption from stamp duty

30

Provisions as to pollution by liquids resulting from manufacture of gas, etc.

31

• (1) Where the limits of supply of Scottish Water adjoin any part of England and it appears to Scottish Water that there may be water in watercourses or underground strata in that part of England, or in the limits of supply, which could be transferred from that part of England to the limits of supply, or from the limits of supply to that part of England, as the case may be, Scottish Water shall, insofar as it considers it appropriate to do so, consult with

• (a) the water undertakers and other appropriate authorities in that part of England with a view to securing the best use of that water in the public interest ; and

• (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

• (2) In subsection (1) the reference to water in underground strata shall be construed as a reference to water contained in strata subjacent to the surface of any land otherwise than in a sewer, pipe, reservoir, tank or other underground works constructed in any such strata.

Power of water undertakers to supply water to water authorities

32

• (1) Any person supplying water, whether under statutory powers or not, may—

• (a) contract to supply water to Scottish Water; or

• (b) sell or lease to Scottish Water all or any of his waterworks and all his rights, powers and privileges attaching thereto but subject to all liabilities attaching thereto.

• (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Temporary discharge of water into watercourses

33

• (1) Subject to this section where Scottish Water is carrying out or is about to carry out the construction, alteration, repair, cleaning or examination of any reservoir, well or borehole, line of pipes or other work forming part of its undertaking , it may cause the water therein to be discharged into any available watercourse, and for that purpose may lay and maintain in any road or in any land not forming part of a road, . . . , all necessary discharge pipes and apparatus; and such statutory provisions with respect to the breaking open of roads as are applicable to Scottish Water shall, with any necessary modifications and adaptations, apply accordingly.

• (2) The power conferred by subsection (1) to lay and maintain discharge pipes and apparatus in land, other than land forming part of a road, shall not be exercised unless reasonable notice has been given to the owner and the occupier of that land.

• (3) Except in a case of emergency and except insofar as may be otherwise agreed in writing between Scottish Water and the authority or board concerned, Scottish Water shall—

• (a) not less than seven days before commencing to discharge any such water through a pipe exceeding nine inches in diameter, give notice of its intentions

• (i) to the fishery district board of any fishery district within which

• (ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

any watercourse into which the water is to be discharged is situated; and

• (ii) to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

• (b) have due regard to any representations which may be made to it as to the time, mode and rate of discharge with a view to avoiding or minimising injury or inconvenience therefrom; and

• (c) where the water is to be discharged into any river, canal or other inland navigation in respect of which a navigation authority exercise functions, not discharge the water without the written approval of the navigation authority, or except at such times as that authority may approve and in a manner approved by it as not likely to injure the river, canal or navigation or the banks thereof, or interfere with traffic thereon.

• (4) Whenever Scottish Water proposes to discharge water on a number of occasions during a period, the giving by it of a general notice to that effect, accompanied by such particulars as it is reasonably practicable for it to give, shall constitute sufficient compliance by it with the provisions of subsection (3)(a).

• (5) In the case of a river, subsection (3)(c) shall not apply if the point of discharge into the river is more than three miles above the limits within which the navigation authority exercise jurisdiction.

• (6) An approval under subsection (3)(c)—

• (a) shall not be withheld unreasonably, and any question whether it is withheld unreasonably or not shall be determined by the Secretary of State;

• (b) shall be deemed to have been given unless notice of disapproval is given to Scottish Water within seven days after the making of the application for the approval.

• (7) If Scottish Water is requested by—

• (a) the owner or occupier or any land which abuts on a watercourse at a point within three miles of any work of Scottish Water from which water may be discharged into that watercourse under this section, or

• (b) the clerk to any association of mill owners any of whose constituent members is such an owner or occupier, or

• (c) the owner or occupier of a salmon fishing on a watercourse at such a point if such watercourse is within a fishery district for which no fishery district board has been constituted,

to register him for the purposes of this section, Scottish Water shall enter his name and address in a register kept by it for the purpose and, so long as his name and address appear in the register, shall, except in a case of emergency and except insofar as may be otherwise agreed with him in writing, and unless the point at which the water is to be discharged is situated downstream of the land in respect of which he is so registered, send to him in respect of that watercourse the like notices as it is(in the absence of any emergency or agreement to the contrary) required under subsection (3)(a) to send to a fishery district board.

• (8) Except insofar as may be otherwise agreed in writing, where Scottish Water discharges water during an emergency, it shall forthwith give to the boards, authorities and persons registered under subsection (7) notice of such discharge and such further particulars relating to it as may reasonably be required.

• (9) Scottish Water shall take all necessary steps to secure that any water discharge by it under the provisions of this section shall be as free as reasonably practicable from mud and silt, from solid, polluting offensive or injurious matter and from any matter prejudicial to fish or spawn or to spawning beds or food of fish.

• (10) A power conferred by this section shall not be exercised so as to damage or injuriously affect any works or other property of a railway company or navigation authority or so as to flood or damage any public road.

• (11) In the exercise of the powers conferred by this section Scottish Watershall do as little damage as possible and shall pay compensation to all persons for any damage sustained by them or liability to which they may become subject by reason of the exercise of those powers; and for the purposes of this subsection any extra expenditure which it becomes reasonably necessary for any public authority to incur for the purpose of properly discharging their statutory functions shall be deemed to be damage sustained by them.

• (12) Any question as to the amount of the compensation to be paid under subsection (11) shall in case of dispute be determined by arbitration.

Penalty for obstructing construction of works.

34

Any person supplying water within the limits of supply of Scottish Water shall furnish such supply to Scottish Water as it may require and as it is reasonably practicable for that person to provide, and that on such terms and conditions as may be agreed between him and Scottish Water ; and, if they fail to agree, the amount of the supply and terms and conditions of the supply shall be determined by the Secretary of State or if he thinks fit, referred for determination to an arbiter appointed by him.

Power to supply water fittings

35

• (1) Scottish Water may, on the request of any person to whom it supplies or proposes to supply water, supply to him any such water fittings as are required or allowed by its byelaws and may, on such request, install, repair or alter (but not manufacture) any such water fittings, whether supplied by it or not, and may provide any materials and do any work required in connection with installation, repair or alteration of water fittings.

Scottish Water may make such charges as may be agreed, or in default of agreement as may be reasonable, for any fittings supplied, or any materials provided or work done under this subsection, and may recover such charges.

• (2) If any fittings supplied otherwise than by sale by Scottish Water bear either a distinguishing plate affixed thereto, or a distinguishing brand or other mark conspicuously impressed or made thereon, sufficiently indicating Scottish Water as the actual owners of the fittings, those fittings—

• (a) shall, notwithstanding that they fixed to some part of the premises in which they are situated or that they be laid in the soil thereunder, continue to be the property of, and removable by, Scottish Water ; and

• (b) shall not be subject to any diligence or to the landlord’s hypothec for rent, or be liable to be taken under any process of law or in any proceedings in bankruptcy against the persons in whose possesion they may be.

• (3) Nothing in subsection (2) shall affect the valuation for rating of any lands and heritages.

• (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (5) If any person—

• (a) so interferes with a meter used by Scottish Water in determining the amount of any charges fixed in relation to any premises as intentionally or recklessly to prevent the meter from showing, or from accurately showing, the volume of water supplied to those premises; or

• (b) carries out, without the consent of Scottish Water , any works which he knows are likely to affect the operation of such a meter or which require the disconnection of such a meter; or

• (c) otherwise wilfully or negligently injures or suffers to be injured any water fitting belonging to Scottish Water ,

he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Undertakers to deposit keys of hydrants at certain places.

36

Scottish Water may by agreement with the owner or occupier of any premises execute at his expense any work in connection with the laying, maintenance, repair, alteration, renewal or removal of any water pipe, cock or meter which he is required or entitled to execute by or under this Act or any local enactment incorporating any provisions of Schedule 4, and for that purpose shall have all such rights as he has and may provide necessary materials.

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

37

If on a complaint by the owner of any premises it appears to the sheriff that the occupier of those premises prevents the owner from executing any work which he is required to execute by or under this Act or any local enactment incorporating any provisions contained in Schedule 4 or by or under any byelaws made under this Act or under any such enactment, the sheriff may authorise the owner to enter for the purpose of executing the work.

Entry of premises

38

• (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, an authorised officer of Scottish Water . . . shall, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right to enter any premises at all reasonable hours—

• (aa) where the conditions set out in subsection (2) of section 24B are satisfied in relation to the premises, for the purpose of carrying out any survey or tests to determine—

• (i) whether the carrying out of any works by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4) of that section is practicable,

• (ii) whether it is necessary or expedient for any purpose connected with the carrying out of any works by virtue of either of those paragraphs for any other works to be carried out, or

• (iii) how any works specified in that subsection should be carried out;

• (ab) for the purpose of inspecting, examining or testing—

• (i) any meter which is on the premises and which is used by Scottish Water for measuring the quantity of water supplied, or

• (ii) any pipes or apparatus installed in the course of any works which were carried out for any purpose which is connected with the installation, connection, testing, maintenance or repair of any such meter;

• (ac) for the purpose of ascertaining from any such meter the quantity of water supplied to the premises;

• (b) for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on or in connection with the premises any contravention of the provisions of this Act or of any byelaws made thereunder;

• (c) for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not circumstances exist which would authorise Scottish Water . . . to take any action or execute any work under this Act or any such byelaws;

• (d) for the purpose of taking any action or executing any work authorised or required by this Act or any such byelaws to be taken or executed by Scottish Water . . . .

• (2) Admission to any premises, not being a factory within the meaning of the Factories Act 1961 or a place in which persons are employed otherwise than in domestic service, shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

• (3) If it is shown to the satisfaction of the sheriff, or a justice having jurisdiction in the place, on a sworn information in writing—

• (a) that admission to any premises which any person is entitled to enter by virtue of such a right of entry has been refused to that person, or that refusal is apprehended, or that the premises are unoccupied, or the occupier is temporarily absent, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the application for admission would defeat the object of the entry; and

• (b) that there is reasonable ground for entry into the premises for any purpose for which the right of entry is exercisable;

the sheriff or justice may by warrant under his hand authorise that person to enter the premises if need be by force:

• (4) Any person entitled to enter any premises by virtue of such a right of entry, or of a warrant issued under this section, may take with him such other persons as may be necessary, and on leaving any unoccupied premises which he has entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectually secured against trespassers as he found them.

• (5) Every warrant granted under this section shall continue in force until the purpose for which the entry is necessary has been satisfied.

• (6) If any person who, in compliance with any of the provisions of this Act or with a warrant issued thereunder, is admitted into any premises makes use of or discloses to any person any information obtained by him there with regard to any manufacturing process or trade secret, he shall, unless such use or disclosure was made in the performance of his duty, be liable in respect of each offence—

• (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment;

• (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

• (7) Any person who wilfully obstructs any person upon whom a right of entry has been conferred by any of the provisions of this Act or by a warrant issued under this section shall in respect of each offence be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

• (8) This section, except subsection (6), shall not apply to any right conferred by section 93.

• (9) This section does not apply in relation to the purposes mentioned in section 76M(1).

Part IV — Finance

Levy of rates in respect of expenditure on water supply

39

Provisions as to liability for domestic water rate

40

Levy of domestic water rate on business and commercial premises

41

Levy of domestic water rate on certain public utility undertakings, mines, parks, etc.

42

Levy of domestic water rate on shootings and fishings

43

Contributions by council in aid of domestic water rate

44

Provisions as to valuation roll

45

• (1) For the purposes of section 41(3) the net annual value of the premises shall be apportioned by the assessor between the part thereof occupied as a dwelling house and the remainder of the premises, and the net annual value of such part and of such remainder shall be shown separately in the valuation roll.

• (2) The provisions of the Lands Valuation (Scotland) Act 1854 (including, without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the provisions with respect to notices to persons whose property is valued and with respect to appeals) shall apply with regard to any particular required by any provision of this section to be shown in the valuation roll in like manner as those provisions apply with regard to the particulars required by any other enactment to be so shown.

• (3) For the purpose of enabling the assessor to effect any apportionment required to be effected by him under this section the water authority shall furnish him with such information as to the premises in their limits of supply supplied with water and as to such other matters as he may reasonably require for that purpose.

Transport hereditaments

46

Domestic water rate in certain cases

47

• (1) Subject to section 41A of this Act, no charge shall be fixed, demanded or recovered for a supply of water to premises to which a water authority were, immediately before 16th May 1949, by virtue of any enactment or agreement, under an obligation to provide such a supply free of charge.

• (2) Where by virtue of any local enactment in force immediately before 16th May 1949 the domestic water rate was , for a period specified in that enactment, leviable in any area so specified at an amount per pound determined by the local enactment (whether as an amount per pound so specified or as an amount per pound being a proportion so specified of the amount per pound at which the domestic water rate would otherwise be payable, or otherwise), any charge payable in the area in question for a supply of water in any period commencing after 31st March 1996 (the “transfer date” for the purposes of Part II of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 and of this subsection) shall, during the period so specified, bear the same proportion to the charge which (but for this subsection) would be payablefor that supply under a charges scheme, as the non-domestic water rate payable there as at the transfer date by virtue of the local enactment and of this subsection (as it had effect on the transfer date) bore to the non-domestic water rate which would otherwise have been payable.

• (3) Where, by virtue of any enactment or agreement in force immediately before 16th May 1949, a water authority were under an obligation to provide a supply of water to any premises on terms more favourable to the person having the vested interest in the obligation than those which, apart from the obligation, would have been applicable under the enactments in force immediately before that date relating to the supply of water by the authority in the limits of supply in which the premises are situated, the supply shall continue to be provided on the following, and no other, terms, that is to say—

• (a) where immediately before 16th May 1949 there was leviable under such an enactment a rate other than a public water rate, on such terms as may be agreed between the authority and the person having the vested interest in the obligation;

• (b) in any other case on the terms on which immediately before that date it was provided under the enactment or agreement.

• (4) In determining for the purposes of the foregoing provisions of this section whether a supply of water provided under any enactment or agreement in force immediately before 16th May 1949 was provided free of charge or was such a supply as is mentioned in subsection (3), or in determining the sum which by virtue of that subsection is to be paid in respect of such a supply, no account shall be taken of any public water rate levied under any such enactment in respect of the premises so supplied or of any undertaking (other than an undertaking to pay a rate or a charge) entered into by the person having the vested interest in the obligation in consideration of which the supply was provided.

• (5) Any question arising under this section whether a water authority are required to provide a supply of water free of charge, or whether a supply is such a supply as is mentioned in subsection (3), or as to the terms on which a supply was provided immediately before 16th May 1949, or on which by virtue of this section a supply is to continue to be provided or otherwise, shall, in default of agreement, be referred to the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State may determine it himself or, if he thinks fit, may refer it for determination by arbitration.

• (6) In this section the expression “public water rate” means in relation to any supply any rate called the public water rate in the local enactment by virtue of which the supply is provided on special terms.

• (7) Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as continuing any exemption, and nothing in subsection (3) as continuing any advantage, where under the enactment or agreement in question the obligation which gives rise to the exemption or advantage ceases to exist.

Levying of, and exemptions from, rates

48

Payment for supplies by meter

49

Power to require supply by meter

50

• (1) Scottish Water shall not be bound to supply with water otherwise than by meter—

• (a) any premises whereof part is used as a dwelling house and part for any business, trade or manufacturing purpose for which water is required;

• (b) any public institution, hospital, asylum . . . , sanatorium, school, club, hostel, camp, assembly hall, place of public entertainment, hotel or restaurant or any licensed premises for which a licence is required under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 16);

• (bb) accommodation provided by a care home service (as defined by paragraph 2 of schedule 12 to the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8);

• (c) any boarding-house capable of accommodating 12 or more persons, including the persons usually resident therein; . . .

• (d) any premises which are used solely for business, trade or manufacturing purposes and in which a supply of water for domestic purposes only is required.; or

• (e) any other premises specified, or of a description specified, in an order made by the Scottish Ministers.

• (2) Before making an order under subsection (1)(e) the Scottish Ministers shall consult such persons as they think fit.

• (3) The power to make such an order shall be exercisable by statutory instrument; and a statutory instrument containing such an order shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

Power to require supplies for refrigerating apparatus, etc., to be taken by meter

51

Where a person who takes a supply of water for domestic purposes from Scottish Water otherwise than by meter desires to use any of the water so supplied—

• (a) for operating a water-cooled or refrigerating apparatus;

• (b) for operating any apparatus depending while in use upon a supply of continuously running water, not being an apparatus used solely for heating the water; or

• (c) for cleaning, regenerating or supplying motive power to an apparatus used for softening water,

Scottish Water may require that all water so supplied shall be taken by meter.

Power to require supply for hose-pipe to be taken by meter

52

Where water which Scottish Water supplies for domestic purposes is used by means of a hosepipe or similar apparatus for watering a garden or for horses, washing vehicles or other purposes in stables, garages or other premises where horses or vehicles are kept, Scottish Water may require that all water so supplied shall be taken by meter.

Provisions as to supply to tents, vans, sheds, etc.

53

• (1) No person shall be entitled to demand or to continue to receive from Scottish Water a supply of water to any habitation to which this subsection applies unless he has—

• (a) agreed with Scottish Water to take a supply of water by meter and to pay to it such minimum annual sum as will give it a reasonable return on the capital expenditure incurred by it in providing the required supply and will cover other standing charges incurred by it in order to meet the possible maximum demand for his habitation, and will yield a reasonable return on the cost of the water supplied; and

• (b) secured to the reasonable satisfaction of Scottish Water by way of deposit or otherwise, payment of such a sum as may be reasonable having regard to his possible maximum demand for water.

The annual sum to be so paid and the security to be so given shall be determined, in default of agreement, by the sheriff, whose decision shall be final.

• (2) The habitations to which subsection (1) applies are tents, vans or other conveyances, whether on wheels or not, and sheds or similar structures.

• (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Register of meter to be evidence

54

• (1) Where Scottish Water supplies water by meter, the register of the meter shall be sufficient evidence of the quantity of water supplied

• (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (3) If the meter on being tested is proved to register incorrectly to any degree exceeding five per cent the relevant percentage—

• (a) the meter shall be deemed to have registered incorrectly to that degree since the last occasion but one before the date of the test on which a reading of the index of the meter was taken by Scottish Water , unless it is proved to have begun to register incorrectly on some later date; and

• (b) the amount of any refund to be made to, or of any extra payment to be made by, the consumer shall be paid or allowed by Scottish Water or paid by the consumer, as the case may be, .

• (4) In subsection (3), “the relevant percentage” means—

• (a) in the case of a high flow rate, 2.5%,

• (b) in the case of a low flow rate, 6%.

• (5) The Scottish Ministers, by regulations—

• (a) must define “high flow rate” and “low flow rate” for the purpose of subsection (4),

• (b) may amend a percentage figure appearing in subsection (4).

Charges for water supplied by meter

55

• (1) Scottish Water shall prepare and maintain a schedule of the terms and conditions , other than as respects charges, on which it is prepared in general to give a supply of water by meter or otherwise, and that schedule shall be published in such manner as in the opinion of Scottish Water will secure adequate publicity for it.

• (2) Nothing in the foregoing subsection shall be construed as prejudicing the rights or duties under section 9 of Scottish Water or of any person supplied or proposed to be supplied by it under that section.

• (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Provisions as to supply of water to agricultural subjects

56

• (1) Where a supply of water for purposes other than domestic purposes is provided for premises being agricultural lands and heritages, Scottish Water shall require the supply to be taken either by meter or on other specified terms as it may from time to time in its discretion determine.

• (2) Where Scottish Water supplies water by meter for purposes other than domestic purposes to any premises being agricultural lands and heritages and also supplies water for domestic purposes to any dwelling house comprised in such premises, Scottish Water shall, if it is reasonably practicable so to do, provide the whole supply of water to such premises and dwelling house through a single meter.

Charge not to be made for provision of small meters

57

Termination of right to supply of water on special terms

58

• (1) Where by virtue of any enactment including any enactment in this Act) or of any agreement Scottish Water is under an obligation to which this section applies, Scottish Water and the person having the vested interest in the obligation may . . . enter into an agreement to terminate the obligation on such terms and conditions as to compensation or otherwise as they may agree; and any such agreement shall be enforceable against any person deriving title from the person who entered into the agreement.

• (2) The Secretary of State may, on the application of Scottish Water and after affording to the person having the vested interest in the obligation an opportunity of making representations to the Secretary of State, whether in writing or on being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State, by order provide for the termination compulsorily of an obligation to which this section applies on payment of compensation, the amount of which shall, in default of agreement, be determined in manner provided by the Lands Clauses Acts with references to the taking of lands otherwise than by agreement, and the order may contain such incidental, consequential and supplementary provisions, including provisions for the amendment and repeal of any local enactment, as the Secretary of State thinks necessary or expedient.

• (3) The amount of the compensation to be paid under subsection (2) shall be assesed by reference to the value of the rights secured under the obligation as at the date of the making of the order, and in assessing that value regard shall be had to the amount of any charge for a supply of water which may reasonably be expected to become payable as a result of the termination of the obligation.

• (4) This section applies to any obligation on the part of Scottish Water providing to any person other than a local authority. . . a supply of water (whether for domestic purposes or for purposes other than domestic purposes) to provide that supply free of charge or on terms more favourable to the person having the vested interest in the obligation than those which apart from the obligation would be applicable.

• (5) Scottish Water shall —

• (a) register in the Land Register of Scotland any agreement entered into, or order made, under the foregoing provisions of this section terminating an obligation to which this section applies if the obligation was itself registered in the Land Register, or

• (b) record in the Register of Sasines any such agreement or order if the obligation was itself recorded in the Register of Sasines.

• (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (7) An obligation to furnish a supply of water or to grant a wayleave for pipes or to give any other benefit or advantage to Scottish Water entered into in consideration of an obligation to which this section applies shall not be deemed to be terminated by reason only of the termination under this section of the last mentioned obligation.

• (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Limitation of liability of water authority to supply water on special terms

59