Water Act 1989 — United Kingdom law | Esheria

Water Act 1989

This Act sets up the transfer of water authority functions and property to a new Authority, successor companies, and other bodies, and gives the Secretary of State and the Authority powers and duties for appointments, dissolution, finance, and flood defence.

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
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appointments asset transfer authority governance byelaws committee governance confidential information consents and permits discharge consent employment continuity false statements financial controls flood defence functions foreign property vesting nitrate sensitive areas notice and delegation offences and penalties operational compliance public registers regulatory amendments regulatory charges regulatory definitions regulatory enforcement regulatory powers scheme implementation +10 more

Statute overview

About this statute

This Act sets up the transfer of water authority functions and property to a new Authority, successor companies, and other bodies, and gives the Secretary of State and the Authority powers and duties for appointments, dissolution, finance, and flood defence. This provision sets the Authority’s fisheries area, requires advisory committees and consultation, restricts disclosure of protected information, creates offences for unlawful disclosure and false statements, and gives the Secretary of State various order-making and funding powers. The provision lets schemes transfer water authority property, rights and liabilities to a new appointee or the Authority, and it imposes duties to give information, carry out steps for foreign property, and comply with scheme directions. This provision updates many references in earlier water and fisheries laws and adds duties and enforcement powers for water authorities and local authorities on drinking-water quality and private supplies. This Part lets the Secretary of State and river purification authorities control water quality, discharge consents, and related pollution rules, while creating offences for unlawful pollution and non-compliance.