LegalizeReform history
Water Resources Act 1991
100 versions
· 1991-07-25
2026-04-06
Water Resources Act 1991
2026-01-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2025-04-15
Water Resources Act 1991
2025-04-06
Water Resources Act 1991
2025-02-24
Water Resources Act 1991
2024-03-13
Water Resources Act 1991
2024-01-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2022-09-08
Water Resources Act 1991
2022-03-25
Water Resources Act 1991
2022-01-09
Water Resources Act 1991
2021-02-11
Water Resources Act 1991
2021-01-23
Water Resources Act 1991
2021-01-21
Water Resources Act 1991
2020-12-31
Water Resources Act 1991
2020-03-27
Water Resources Act 1991
2018-09-17
Water Resources Act 1991
2018-05-31
Water Resources Act 1991
2018-01-02
Water Resources Act 1991
2018-01-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2017-12-22
Water Resources Act 1991
2017-11-30
Water Resources Act 1991
2017-09-05
Water Resources Act 1991
2017-04-10
Water Resources Act 1991
2017-03-31
Water Resources Act 1991
2017-03-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2017-02-23
Water Resources Act 1991
2017-01-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2016-11-30
Water Resources Act 1991
2016-04-06
Water Resources Act 1991
2016-01-12
Water Resources Act 1991
2015-12-16
Water Resources Act 1991
2015-10-16
Water Resources Act 1991
2015-09-06
Water Resources Act 1991
2015-07-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2015-06-30
Water Resources Act 1991
2015-05-26
Water Resources Act 1991
2015-03-12
Water Resources Act 1991
2015-03-11
Water Resources Act 1991
2014-12-31
Water Resources Act 1991
2014-12-15
Water Resources Act 1991
2014-07-14
Water Resources Act 1991
2014-04-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2013-11-06
Water Resources Act 1991
2013-08-22
Water Resources Act 1991
2013-08-21
Water Resources Act 1991
2013-04-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2012-09-26
Water Resources Act 1991
2012-07-02
Water Resources Act 1991
2012-03-24
Water Resources Act 1991
2012-03-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2011-12-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2011-10-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2011-04-22
Water Resources Act 1991
2011-04-06
Water Resources Act 1991
2011-02-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2010-09-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2010-08-27
Water Resources Act 1991
2010-07-20
Water Resources Act 1991
2010-04-06
Water Resources Act 1991
2010-03-24
Water Resources Act 1991
2010-01-15
Water Resources Act 1991
2010-01-12
Water Resources Act 1991
2009-12-22
Water Resources Act 1991
2009-10-30
Water Resources Act 1991
2009-10-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2009-07-07
Water Resources Act 1991
2009-07-02
Water Resources Act 1991
2009-06-09
Water Resources Act 1991
2009-06-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2008-12-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2008-07-22
Water Resources Act 1991
2008-05-26
Water Resources Act 1991
2008-05-16
Water Resources Act 1991
2008-04-06
Water Resources Act 1991
2008-04-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2007-09-28
Water Resources Act 1991
2007-08-23
Water Resources Act 1991
2007-05-24
Water Resources Act 1991
2007-03-19
Water Resources Act 1991
2007-02-08
Water Resources Act 1991
2006-11-22
Water Resources Act 1991
2006-10-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2006-05-15
Water Resources Act 1991
2006-05-11
Water Resources Act 1991
2006-05-02
Water Resources Act 1991
2006-04-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2006-03-30
Water Resources Act 1991
2006-01-11
Water Resources Act 1991
2005-12-01
Water Resources Act 1991
Changes on 2005-12-01
@@ -4860,13 +4860,23 @@
- (1) It shall be the duty of the Agency to provide a water undertaker with all such information to which this section applies as is in the possession of the Agency and is reasonably requested by the undertaker for purposes connected with the carrying out of its functions.
- (1A) It shall be the duty of the Agency to provide a licensed water supplier with all such information to which this section applies as is in the possession of the Agency and is reasonably requested by the supplier for purposes connected with the carrying on of activities under its licence.
- (2) It shall be the duty of every water undertaker to provide the Agency with all such information to which this section applies as is in the possession of the undertaker and is reasonably requested by the Agency for purposes connected with the carrying out of any of its functions.
- (3) Information provided to a water undertaker or to the Agency under subsection (1) or (2) above shall be provided in such form and in such manner and at such times as the undertaker or, as the case may be, the Agency may reasonably require.
- (4) Information provided under subsection (1) or (2) above to a water undertaker or to the Agency shall be provided free of charge.
- (5) The duties of a water undertaker under subsection (2) above shall be enforceable under section 18 of the Water Industry Act 1991 by the Secretary of State.
- (2A) It shall be the duty of every licensed water supplier to provide the Agency with all such information to which this section applies as is in the possession of the supplier and is reasonably requested by the Agency for purposes connected with the carrying out of any of its functions.
- (3) Information provided to a water undertaker, to a licensed water supplier or to the Agency under subsection (1), (1A), (2) or (2A) above shall be provided in such form and in such manner and at such times as the undertaker, the supplier or the Agency, as the case may be, may reasonably require.
- (4) Information provided under subsection (1), (1A), (2) or (2A) above to a water undertaker, to a licensed water supplier or to the Agency shall be provided free of charge.
- (5) The duties of
- (a) a water undertaker under subsection (2) above; or
- (b) a licensed water supplier under subsection (2A) above,
shall be enforceable under section 18 of the Water Industry Act 1991 by the Secretary of State.
- (6) This section applies to information—
@@ -4876,6 +4886,8 @@
- (7) In this section “*controlled waters*” has the same meaning as in Part III of this Act.
- (8) Any reference in this section to a licensed water supplier is a reference to a company holding a licence under Chapter 1A of Part 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991.
### Restriction on disclosure of information
#### Restriction on disclosure of information
@@ -4894,9 +4906,9 @@
- (a) for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by either of the Ministers, the Agency, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the the Water Services Regulation Authority, the Consumer Council for Water, the Competition Commission or a local authority of any of his, its or, as the case may be, their functions by virtue of this Act, any of the other consolidation Acts , the Water Act 1989, Part I or IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the 1995 Act, regulations under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, or the Water Act 2003;
- (b) for the purpose of facilitating the performance by a water undertaker or sewerage undertaker of any of the duties imposed on it by or under this Act, any of the other consolidation Acts, the Water Act 1989 or the Water Act 2003;
- (c) in pursuance of any duty imposed by section 197(1)(a) or (2) or 203(1) or (2) above or of any duty imposed by section 27H of the Water Industry Act 1991;
- (b) for the purpose of facilitating the performance by a water undertaker, sewerage undertaker or company holding a licence under Chapter 1A of Part 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991 of any of the duties imposed on it by or under this Act, any of the other consolidation Acts, the Water Act 1989 or the Water Act 2003;
- (c) in pursuance of any duty imposed by section 197(1)(a) or (2) or 203(1), (1A), (2) or (2A) above or of any duty imposed by section 27H of the Water Industry Act 1991;
- (d) for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by any person mentioned in Part I of Schedule 24 to this Act of any of his functions under any of the enactments or instruments specified in Part II of that Schedule;
@@ -9280,11 +9292,11 @@
| Sch 25 | 1963 s. 79(3)–(6); 1973 s. 9; 1975 Sch 3 paras 14–16 & 19–36; 1976 s. 34; [1986 (c. 62)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/62) s. 33(3); 1989 ss. 114, 158, Sch 13 para 21, Sch 15 para 15(1) & Sch 17 para 7(14)(c) & (d); R: 5. |
| Sch 26 | 1989 Sch 24. |
#### General duties with respect to the water industry.
#### Water resources management schemes.
#### Restrictions on persons who may make applications for abstraction licences.
#### . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
#### General management of resources by the Agency.
#### Application for combined abstraction and impounding licence.
##### 79A
@@ -9368,7 +9380,7 @@
- “*inland navigation*” has the same meaning as in section 77 above.
#### Civil remedies for loss or damage due to water abstraction
#### Succession to licences to abstract where person ceases to occupy the relevant land.
### Consents for the purposes of sections 88 to 90
@@ -9514,9 +9526,9 @@
### chapter iii — POWERS TO PREVENT AND CONTROL POLLUTION
#### Offences of polluting controlled waters.
#### General functions with respect to flood defence.
#### Prohibition of certain discharges by notice or regulations.
#### Obligation to carry out flood defence functions through committees.
##### 161A
@@ -11676,6 +11688,24 @@
[^key-0bfee678dd326299854b851babaecbba]: S. 109 excluded (25.11.2005) by [Docklands Light Railway (Capacity Enhancement) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3105)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/3105), [arts. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/3105/article/1), [5(7)(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/3105/article/5/7/a) (with [arts. 3(5)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/3105/article/3/5), [15(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/3105/article/15/3))
[^key-0e0aa0a23e80bfb0f7b95eeb1f016ee1]: S. 203(1A) inserted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(2)(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/2/a); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-322ff52927406e174ec950881ac3aac4]: S. 203(2A) inserted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(2)(b)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/2/b); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-ec8e1963f523632d47d80fc0d2db5f3a]: S. 203(3) substituted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(2)(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/2/c); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-f97c7f82f1134088280d3e21b478c8bd]: S. 203(8) inserted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(2)(f)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/2/f); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-632e936b048ef0ea9c5514e969d37ae9]: Words in s. 203(4) substituted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(2)(d)(i)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/2/d/i); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-dc3d17c10c1a670fd328e01b3ca2e296]: Words in s. 203(4) inserted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(2)(d)(ii)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/2/d/ii); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-a534ab3641aba9fc8d3db8d0ff3c7f18]: Words in s. 203(5) substituted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(2)(e)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/2/e); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-12edc661676c0c8595fcf5908f13328b]: Words in s. 204(2)(b) substituted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(3)(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/3/a); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-2d678ad2cf619ba3021f4dd19ec8320e]: Words in s. 204(2)(c) substituted (1.12.2005) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [s. 105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 8 para. 53(3)(b)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/8/paragraph/53/3/b); [S.I. 2005/2714](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714), [art. 3(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/article/3/c) (with [Sch. para. 8](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2714/schedule/paragraph/8))
[^key-20648ecf8881b793f54aafed4eaf8daa]: Words in s. 221(1) repealed (17.3.2004 for E., 1.4.2004 for W.) by [Water Act 2003 (c. 37)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37), [ss. 69(4)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/69/4), [105(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/section/105/3), [Sch. 9 Pt. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/schedule/9/part/3); [S.I. 2004/641](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/641), [art. 2(a)(d)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/641/article/2/a/d); S.I. 2004/910, art. 2(1)(b)
##### 27A
@@ -11900,14 +11930,14 @@
- (b) a person who has made an application for an appointment or variation replacing a company as a water undertaker under section 8 of the Water Industry Act 1991 which has not been determined.
#### Fisheries orders.
The Office of Fair Trading.
#### . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any Minister of the Crown.
#### . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any Minister of the Crown.
##### 39A
- (1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a right is a protected right if—
@@ -12002,4 +12032,4 @@
but without prejudice to the application of section 48 above.
#### Power to provide for further rights to abstract.
#### Power to provide for further exemptions
2005-11-25
Water Resources Act 1991
2005-10-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2005-08-26
Water Resources Act 1991
2005-06-08
Water Resources Act 1991
2005-04-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2005-03-24
Water Resources Act 1991
2005-03-22
Water Resources Act 1991
2005-02-11
Water Resources Act 1991
2004-11-10
Water Resources Act 1991
2004-10-01
Water Resources Act 1991
2004-09-01
Water Resources Act 1991
original version
Text at this date