UK Act of Parliament 1980 United Kingdom

Water (Scotland) Act 1980

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At a glance

Enforced by

WICS, SEPA

What's here

39 compliance obligations

Penalty landscape

5 of 39 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 8 carry different penalties and 26 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 13
  • Occupier 3
  • Employee 1

Plus 22 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Occupiers also bound by 101 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Employees also bound by 53 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — Central Authority

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part II — Duties of Water Authorities

Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.009

s.9A

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

s.024

Keeping of map showing water mains, etc.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Scottish Water must maintain and provide access to water main maps Statutory regulator
s.024

Works in connection with metering

  • Carry out water meter installation or maintenance works when notified Occupier
s.038

Entry of premises.

3 months imprisonment
  • Disclose manufacturing processes or trade secrets Any Person
Browse 27 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.013

Supply of water for use outwith Scotland.

s.023

Laying of mains and communication pipes by persons other than Scottish Water

s.023

Construction standards for mains and communication pipes to vest in Scottish Water

s.023

Vesting conditions for mains and communication pipes

Part IV — Finance

Browse 21 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.041

Supply of water by meter.

s.056

Regulations as to meters.

Part V — Houses, Etc., to be Supplied with Water

Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part VI — Conservation and Protection of Water Resources

Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.068

Agreements for water quality

Part VIA — Quality of Water

s.076

Duties of water authorities with respect to water quality.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Scottish Water must supply wholesome water and prevent quality deterioration Statutory regulator
s.076

Regulations for preserving water quality.

Unlimited fine
  • Breach water quality and safety regulations Any Person
s.076

Offence of supplying water unfit for human consumption.

2 years imprisonment
  • Supply water unfit for human consumption Employee
s.076

Provision of water where piped supplies insufficient or unwholesome.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities may recover emergency water supply costs from owners Local authority
s.076

General functions of local authorities in relation to water quality.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must monitor and report on water quality and sufficiency Local authority
s.076

Remedial powers of local authorities where domestic distribution failure affects supply to public

Unlimited fine
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must issue notices for water supply failures Local authority
s.076

Incidental powers of local authorities.

Unlimited fine
  • Failure to provide information to a local authority regarding water supplies Any Person
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.076

Enforcement of sections 76A to 76D.

s.076

Domestic distribution failures where water is supplied to the public by private supply

s.076

Effect, confirmation and variation of a notice under section 76FB

s.076

Remedial powers of local authorities in relation to private supplies.

s.076

Effect, confirmation and variation of notice under section 76G.

s.076

Application of sections 76G and 76H to certain private supplies

s.076

Standards of wholesomeness.

s.076

Power to give effect to international obligations.

s.076

Interpretation etc. of Part VIA.

Part VIB — Raw water quality

s.076

Taking steps

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulators must provide ID and explain authority when entering premises Statutory regulator
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.076

Power to enter

s.076

Entry warrants

s.076

Approved persons

s.076

Obstruction offence

s.076

Specifying bodies of water

s.076

Orders under this Part

Part VII — Powers to Supply Water During Drought

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part VIII — Water Development Boards

s.081

Functions of Central Board.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Central Board must develop and manage bulk water supplies in Central Scotland Statutory regulator
s.085

Requisitions.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Water development boards must requisition funds from contributing authorities Statutory regulator
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part IX — General

s.094

False information.

3 months imprisonment
  • Provide false information or records to water regulators Any Person
s.102

Expenses.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must pay for expenses incurred under this Act Crown / Minister / Government department
s.105

Reference to arbitration.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must appoint an arbiter if parties cannot agree Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

Browse 140 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch001

Where Scottish Water proposes to apply for any order to...

s.sch001

Before making an order to which this Part of this...

s.sch001

Not later than the date on which the said notice...

s.sch001

The Secretary of State shall also publish in the Edinburgh...

s.sch001

The Secretary of State shall, at the request of any...

s.sch001

The Secretary of State may make the order either in...

s.sch001

If before the expiration of the 28 days referred to...

s.sch001

After considering the report of any local inquiry under the...

s.sch001

The expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in connection...

s.sch001

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

s.sch001

Where Scottish Water proposes to enter into an agreement to...

s.sch001

Not later than the date on which the said notice...

s.sch001

Scottish Water shall also publish in the Edinburgh Gazette a...

s.sch001

The Secretary of State shall not approve the agreement before...

s.sch001

After considering the report of any local inquiry under the...

s.sch001

The expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in connection...

s.sch001

Byelaws to which this Part of this Schedule applies ....

s.sch001

At least one month before application for confirmation of the...

s.sch001

For at least one month before such application is made,...

s.sch001

Scottish Water shall, at the request of any person interested,...

s.sch001

Any person aggrieved by any such byelaws may, within one...

s.sch001

The Secretary of State may confirm with or without modification...

s.sch001

Scottish Water shall also publish in the Edinburgh Gazette a...

s.sch001

A copy of the byelaws when confirmed shall be printed...

s.sch001

The production of a printed copy of the byelaws on...

s.sch001

Scottish Water shall, at the request of any person interested,...

s.sch001

The Secretary of State may make an order in the...

s.sch001

If before the expiration of the 28 days referred to...

s.sch001

After considering the report of any local inquiry under the...

s.sch001

The expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in connection...

s.sch001

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

s.sch002

The order shall incorporate the Lands Clauses Acts and section...

s.sch002

A copy of the notice required by paragraph 1 or...

s.sch002

Where any such objection as is mentioned in paragraph 6...

s.sch002

Notwithstanding anything in paragraph 5 or 14 of Schedule 1,...

s.sch002

Subject as hereinafter provided, Part III of Schedule 1 to...

s.sch002

As soon as may be after the order has been...

s.sch002

Part IV of Schedule 1 to the Act of 1947...

s.sch002

In this Schedule the expression “the Act of 1947” means...

s.sch003

Power to break open streets.

s.sch003

Protection for railway companies, navigation authorities, tramway undertakers, etc.

s.sch003

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

s.sch003

Power to lay service pipes, etc.

s.sch003

Laying of supply pipes, etc.

s.sch003

Laying of communication pipes, etc.

s.sch003

Power of authority to require separate service pipes.

s.sch003

Power to break open streets forming boundary of limits of supply.

s.sch003

Provisions as to the position of stopcocks.

s.sch004

Definitions, etc.

s.sch004

Provisions as to compensation water.

s.sch004

Undertakers not entitled to underlying minerals unless expressly purchased.

s.sch004

Map of underground works to be prepared and kept up to date.

s.sch004

Mines lying near the works not to be worked without notice to undertakers.

s.sch004

If undertakers unwilling to pay compensation, mines may be worked in usual manner.

s.sch004

Power to make mining communication where continuous working is prevented.

s.sch004

Undertakers to pay compensation for expenses incurred by reason of severance.

s.sch004

Undertakers may enter and inspect the working of mines.

s.sch004

Undertakers not exempted from liability for injury to mines.

s.sch004

Undertakers to fix and maintain fire hydrants on pipes.

s.sch004

Permissible limits of deviation.

s.sch004

Undertakers to deposit keys of hydrants at certain places.

s.sch004

Cost of hydrants.

s.sch004

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision as to—...

s.sch004

Hydrants to be placed near factories, etc., at request of owners or occupiers.

s.sch004

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

s.sch004

Supply of water for cleansing sewers, etc., and for other public purposes.

s.sch004

Duty of undertakers as respects constant supply and pressure.

s.sch004

Power to require provision of cisterns in certain cases.

s.sch004

Power to test water fittings.

s.sch004

Power to enter premises to detect waste or misuse of water.

s.sch004

Power to repair supply pipes.

s.sch004

Limit on powers of undertakers to take water.

s.sch004

Penalty for waste, etc., of water by non-repair of pipes, etc.

s.sch004

Penalty for misuse of water.

s.sch004

Penalty for injuring water fittings, etc., or for fraudulent use of water.

s.sch004

Penalty for interference with valves and apparatus.

s.sch004

Penalty for extension or alteration of pipes, etc.

s.sch004

Meters to be connected, or disconnected by undertakers.

s.sch004

Meters, etc., to measure water or detect waste.

s.sch004

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

s.sch004

Provision as to pollution by gas.

s.sch004

Power to examine pipes and other works to ascertain source of pollution.

s.sch004

General power to construct subsidiary works.

s.sch004

Notice of discontinuance.

s.sch004

Duty of undertakers to give notice of certain works.

s.sch004

Penalty for obstucting execution of special Act.

s.sch004

Proceedings for offences.

s.sch004

Liability of undertakers to pay compensation.

s.sch004

Protection for works of navigation authorities and for railways.

s.sch004

Copies of special Act to be deposited.

s.sch004

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

s.sch004

Penalty for obstructing construction of works.

s.sch004

Power to acquire servitudes for underground work.

s.sch004

Persons under disability may grant servitudes, etc.

s.sch004

Extinction of private rights of way.

s.sch007

Before making an order under section 4 or 82 the...

s.sch007

The Secretary of State shall cause a copy of a...

s.sch007

If no objection is duly made under paragraph 1 or...

s.sch007

If any objection duly made as aforesaid is not withdrawn,...

s.sch007

The Secretary of State shall not make an amendment order...

s.sch008

A board shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession...

s.sch008

The election of the chairman shall be the first business...

s.sch008

(1) A board may appoint from their number such committees...

s.sch008

The number of members of a committee appointed under this...

s.sch008

The proceedings of a board, or of any committee appointed...

s.sch008

(1) A board may make standing orders with respect to—...

s.sch008

At any meeting of a board or of a committee...

s.sch008

The provisions of sections 38 to 42 of the Local...

s.sch008

(1) Subject to the next following sub-paragraph, the minutes of...

s.sch008

The provisions of section 194 of the Local Government (Scotland)...

s.sch008

(1) Any notice or other document which a board are...

s.sch008

(1) The first members of a board shall come into...

s.sch008

A board shall appoint such officers and servants as the...

s.sch008

The provisions of sections 66 (security to be taken in...

s.sch008

A board may defray— (a) any expenses incurred in the...

s.sch008

A board may pay reasonable subscriptions, whether annually or otherwise,...

s.sch008

The following provisions of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973...

s.sch008

In this Schedule “board” means a water development board, and...

s.sch008

A member of a board may resign his office at...

s.sch008

A member of a board shall vacate his office if...

s.sch008

Where, for any reason whatsoever, the place of a member...

s.sch008

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a...

s.sch008

Subject to the provisions of this Act, a vacating member...

s.sch008

The first meeting of a board shall be held on...

s.sch008

The chairman of a board shall be elected by the...

s.sch009

In so far as anything done under an enactment repealed...

s.sch009

Where any period of time specified in an enactment repealed...

s.sch009

Any reference in any enactment or document, whether express or...

s.sch009

(1) Nothing in this Act shall affect the enactments repealed...

s.schedule/10/part/ii/crossheading/gas/act/1965/c/36

In section 15(11)(d), for the word “1946” there shall be...

s.schedule/10/part/ii/crossheading/gas/act/1965/c/36

In section 23(5) for the words “Acts 1946 and 1949”...

s.schedule/10/part/ii/crossheading/gas/act/1965/c/36

In section 28(1)— (a) in the definition of “limits of...

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

WICS

Primary

Water Industry Commission for Scotland

Economic regulator for the Scottish water industry. Sets charges for Scottish Water and promotes efficiency and value for money.

SEPA

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Scotland's principal environmental regulator. Protects and improves Scotland's environment. Issues environmental permits for waste, emissions, water abstraction, and radioactive substances. Enforces environmental …

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