Water Resources Act 1991 — United Kingdom law | Esheria

Water Resources Act 1991

This provision sets duties for water authorities, restricts water abstraction and impounding works without a licence, and gives the Agency enforcement powers.

AI-assisted research synopsis — verify against the official legal text below.

Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Instrument
Act or statute
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
View official record ↗
Crown application access and entry agency powers appeals byelaws charges compensation compliance compulsory purchase consultation cross-references document service drainage charges drought orders entry powers fisheries regulation flood defence committees flood defence functions flood risk management impounding works information disclosure inspections judicial review land disposal +28 more

Statute overview

About this statute

This provision sets duties for water authorities, restricts water abstraction and impounding works without a licence, and gives the Agency enforcement powers. The appropriate agency must publish notice of certain licence applications, serve copies on specified bodies, and wait for the notice period before deciding. The applicant may appeal to the Secretary of State, and protected rights cannot be overridden without consent. This provision lets qualifying fishing-rights owners ask for a licence to be revoked or varied, sets notice and timing rules, and gives the Secretary of State and the appropriate agency powers and duties for deciding, transferring, reducing, or compensating licences. The Secretary of State and the appropriate agency can make drought orders and permits to address water shortages, and mine operators must give advance notice of abandonment. Water use contrary to a drought order is an offence. This provision gives the appropriate agency and Ministers a range of flood defence, drainage, fisheries, charging, and order-making powers, while also requiring surveys, notice publication, fair contributions, and some compensation arrangements.