Water Framework Directive compliance for businesses
- 1 step
UK Act of Parliament
2003
United Kingdom
Water Act 2003
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
19 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides across 2 topics · 1 journey · 21 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
3 of 19 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 2 carry different penalties and 14 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 7
- Statutory Undertaker 4
Plus 8 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesMentioned in related content
1 guidesOther 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 742 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 83 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 82 duties
- Road Traffic (NI) Order 1995 1995 61 duties
Statutory Undertakers also bound by 21 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 2006 43 duties
- Water Industry Act 1991 1991 38 duties
- The Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 1995 13 duties
- The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 2000 12 duties
- New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 1991 11 duties
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 1 — Abstraction and impounding
Existing impounding works: works notices
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with works notice for unlicensed impounding works Any Person
Enforcement notices, and related procedures and offences
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with an enforcement notice Any Person
Browse 31 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Licences to abstract water
Restrictions on impounding
Existing impounding works
Rights of navigation, harbour and conservancy authorities
Rights to abstract small quantities
Rights to abstract for drainage purposes, etc
Amendments relating to section 7
Power to provide for further exemptions
Orders under section 33 of the WRA, etc
Who may apply for a licence
Abolition of combined licences
Applications: types of abstraction licence
Publication of application for licence
General consideration of licence applications
Protection from derogation
Protected rights
Register of certain protected rights
Form, contents and effect of licences
Limited extension of abstraction licence validity
Modification of licences
Proposals for modification at instance of Agency or Secretary of State
Transfer and apportionment of licences
Claims arising out of water abstraction
Compensation for modification of licence on direction of Secretary of State
Recovery of compensation from new licence-holder
Withdrawal of compensation for certain revocations and variations
Water resources management schemes: other abstractors
Water resources management schemes: referral to Secretary of State
Bulk supplies
Visiting forces
Application of certain water resources provisions to this Act
Part 2 — New regulatory arrangements, etc
Consumer Council for Water
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Consumer Council for Water must represent and protect consumer interests Statutory regulator
General functions of the Council
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Consumer Council for Water must represent and advise on consumer interests Statutory regulator
Provision of statistical information to consumers etc
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Consumer Council for Water must publish complaint statistics Statutory regulator
Consumer complaints
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Consumer Council for Water must investigate and mediate customer complaints Statutory regulator
Co-operation between water regulators
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Water regulators must cooperate and share information with each other Statutory regulator
Browse 18 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Water Services Regulation Authority
Transfer to Authority and Council of functions, property etc
Conditions relating to costs of water regulation
Forward work programmes and annual reports
Objectives and duties under WIA
Guidance to Authority on social and environmental matters
Standards of performance in relation to water supply
Standards of performance in relation to sewerage services
Provision of information to the Council
Investigations by the Council
Financial penalties
Enforcement of certain provisions
Links between directors' pay and standards of performance
Reasons for decisions
Specialist members of the Competition Commission
Determination references under section 12 of the WIA
Conditions of appointments under the WIA
Licensing of other water suppliers
Part 3 — Miscellaneous
Fluoridation of water supplies
- Fluoridate water supplies when requested by health authorities Statutory Undertaker
Water resources management plans
- Prepare and maintain a water resources management plan Statutory Undertaker
Drought plans
- Water companies must prepare and maintain a drought plan Statutory Undertaker
Information
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with information notice under the Water Act Any Person
Environment Agency to be enforcement authority under the Reservoirs Act 1975
- Acknowledge the Environment Agency as the reservoir enforcement authority Any Person
Offences
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with direction under section 12A Any Person
Water conservation by public authorities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public authorities must consider water conservation in all activities Crown / Minister / Government department
Requisition of lateral drains
Unlimited fine- Sewerage undertakers must provide lateral drains upon request Statutory Undertaker
Schemes for the adoption of sewers, lateral drains and sewage disposal works
- Prepare and submit adoption schemes for sewers, drains and disposal works Any Person
Browse 34 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water and the Drinking Water Inspectorate
Charges for services provided with the help of an undertaker
Abstraction and impounding offences
Supplying water unfit for human consumption
Drought orders and drought permits: charges
Procedure at local inquiries
Revocation of local flood defence schemes
Membership of regional flood defence committees in Wales
Regional flood defence committees
Grants for drainage works and flood warning systems
Extension of Environment Agency’s powers of entry
Efficient use of water resources
Border rivers
Extension of enforcement authority’s reserve powers
Service of documents
Flood plans: large raised reservoirs
National security
Crown application
Duty to encourage water conservation
Water conservation: requirements on relevant undertakers
Fire hydrants
Control of water from coal mines
Contaminated land: pollution of controlled waters
Transfer of discharge consents
Trade effluent consents
Trade effluent consents: conditions of consent
Water main requisitions: financial conditions
Water main requisitions: calculation of payments
Self-lay and adoption of water mains and service pipes
Requisition and adoption of sewers
Provision of public sewers otherwise than by requisition
Adoption of lateral drains
Requisitioning and adoption of lateral drains: supplementary
Communication with public sewers
Part 4 — Supplementary
Devolution: Wales
Amended 90 timesMinor and consequential amendments and repeals
Amended 28 timesSpecific transitional and transitory provisions
Amended 2 timesPowers to make further supplementary, consequential and transitional provision, etc
Amended 1 timeInterpretation, commencement, short title, and extent
Amended 1 timeBrowse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Regulations and orders
Schedules
The Consumer Council for Water
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Consumer Council for Water must publish annual reports on project progress Statutory regulator
Compulsory purchase under the Coal Industry Act 1994
- Pay compensation for the compulsory acquisition of new rights over land Any Person
Powers of entry under the Coal Industry Act 1994
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Coal Authority may enter premises by force under warrant Statutory regulator
Browse 120 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Further provisions about transfers of functions, property etc
Licensing of water suppliers
Minor and consequential amendments
Minor and consequential amendments: licensing of water suppliers etc
Repeals and revocation
The Water Services Regulation Authority
After Schedule 1 to the WIA there is inserted— SCHEDULE...
After Schedule 3 to the WIA there is inserted— SCHEDULE...
In this Schedule— “transfer” means— a transfer of functions under...
(1) The property, rights and liabilities which may be transferred...
A transfer scheme may define the property, rights and liabilities...
A transfer scheme may include such supplementary, incidental, transitional and...
(1) If, after the day appointed by a transfer scheme,...
(1) Anything done by the transferor for the purpose of...
There may be continued by or in relation to the...
The transferee shall be substituted for the transferor in any...
Where a person employed in the civil service of the...
The WIA is amended as follows.
After Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the WIA there...
After Chapter 2 of Part 3 of the WIA there...
(1) The Water Services Regulation Authority (“the Authority”) may, in...
After Schedule 1 to the Coal Industry Act 1994 (c....
After Schedule 1A to the Coal Industry Act 1994 (c....
The WRA is amended as follows.
In section 125 (specific exemptions from water resources charges), subsection...
In section 206 (making of false statements etc), in subsection...
In section 217 (criminal liabilities of directors and other third...
In section 222 (Crown application), as substituted by paragraph 2(4)...
For Schedule 6 (which relates to the making of orders...
(1) The Environment Act 1995 is amended as follows.
In Schedule 1 to the Public Records Act 1958 (definition...
In the Schedule to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings)...
In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (departments...
In Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972, in the...
In section 34 (regulations with respect to applications under Chapter...
(1) Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act...
(1) Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act...
In Part 2 of Schedule 1A to the Race Relations...
In the Telecommunications Act 1984, in section 101 (restriction on...
In the Airports Act 1986, in section 74 (restriction on...
In section 9E of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986...
(1) The Water Act 1989 is amended as follows.
(1) The WIA is amended as follows.
(1) The WRA is amended as follows.
(1) The Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 is amended...
In section 40 (obligations to take river flow etc into...
Section 50 of the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992...
In section 59 (information to be kept confidential by the...
(1) The Competition Act 1998 is amended as follows.
In Schedule 7 to the Postal Services Act 2000 (disclosure...
In section 105 of the Utilities Act 2000 (general restrictions...
In Schedule 9 to the Transport Act 2000 (air traffic:...
(1) The Enterprise Act 2002 is amended as follows.
Section 1 of the Metropolis Water Act 1852 (restriction on...
In Schedule 1 to the Reservoirs Act 1975 (index of...
(1) The WIA is amended as follows.
In section 51 (modification of licence on application of licence...
(1) The Land Drainage Act 1991 is amended as follows....
In Schedule 1 to the Health Authorities Act 1995 (amendment...
In section 101 of the Environment Act 1995 (grants in...
In section 57 (emergency variation of licences for spray irrigation...
In section 61 (compensation for licence modified on direction of...
In section 66 (inland waters owned or managed by British...
(1) Section 67 (ecclesiastical property) is amended as follows.
In section 71 (modification of local enactments), in subsection (4),...
(1) Section 174 of the Water Act 1989 (general restrictions...
In section 25 (power to make special administration order on...
In section 26 (restrictions on voluntary winding up and insolvency...
(1) Section 27 (general duty of Authority to keep matters...
(1) Section 39A (information to be given to customers about...
(1) Section 43 (calculation of payments to undertaker in respect...
(1) Section 52 (the domestic supply duty) is amended as...
(1) Section 55 (supplies for non-domestic purposes) is amended as...
After section 63 there is inserted— Supply by licensed water...
(1) Section 68 (water quality) is amended as follows.
(1) Section 69 (regulations for preserving water quality) is amended...
The WIA is amended as follows.
(1) Section 70 (offence of supplying water unfit for human...
In section 72 (contamination of water sources), in subsection (5),...
In section 73 (offences of contaminating water etc), in subsection...
In section 74 (regulations for preventing contamination etc), in subsection...
(1) Section 75 (power to prevent damage etc) is amended...
In section 76 (temporary hosepipe bans), in subsection (1), after...
(1) Section 78 (local authority functions in relation to undertaker’s...
(1) Section 86 (enforcement of water quality) is amended as...
In section 93(1) (interpretation of Part 3), in the definition...
In section 93A (duty to promote the efficient use of...
In section 6 (appointment of relevant undertakers), after subsection (5)...
(1) Section 93B (power to impose requirements in connection with...
(1) Section 93C (publicity) is amended as follows.
(1) Section 93D (information as to compliance) is amended as...
In section 148 (restriction on charging for metering works), in...
In section 150 (fixing maximum charges for services provided with...
In section 152 (grants for national security purposes), in subsection...
In section 158 (powers to lay pipes in streets), in...
(1) Section 162 (works in connection with metering) is amended...
In section 163 (power to fit stopcocks), in subsection (1),...
(1) Section 174 (offences of interference with works) is amended...
(1) Section 18 (orders for securing compliance) is amended as...
(1) Section 175 (offence of tampering with meter) is amended...
(1) Section 179 (vesting of works in undertaker) is amended...
(1) Section 195 (maintenance of register for the purposes of...
(1) Section 201 (publication of information and advice) is amended...
(1) Section 202 (duty to furnish the Secretary of State...
(1) Section 203 (power to acquire information for enforcement purposes)...
(1) Section 205 (exchange of metering information) is amended as...
(1) Section 206 (restriction on disclosure of information) is amended...
(1) Section 208 (directions in the interests of national security)...
(1) Section 213 (power to make regulations) is amended as...
(1) Section 19 (exceptions to duty to enforce) is amended...
(1) Section 219 (general interpretation) is amended as follows.
(1) Schedule 2 (transitional provision on termination of appointments) is...
(1) Schedule 3 (special administration orders) is amended as follows....
(1) The WRA is amended as follows.
In Schedule 7 to the Competition Act 1998, in paragraph...
(1) The Enterprise Act 2002 is amended as follows.
(1) Section 20 (procedure for enforcement orders) is amended as...
In section 22 (effect of enforcement order), in subsection (3),...
(1) Section 23 (meaning and effect of special administration order)...
(1) Section 24 (special administration orders made on special petitions)...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Legislation - Ofwat (opens in a new tab) from Ofwat Detailed Guidance
- Competition - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Roles and responsibilities - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Manage your water abstraction or impoundment licences online (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Water resources charges guidance (opens in a new tab) Publication
- Water management apply for a water abstraction or impoundment licence (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Check if you need a licence to abstract water (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- DAERA water abstraction licence application (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- NRW water abstraction licence application (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- SEPA authorisations and compliance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- ... and 1 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Environment Agency
PrimaryEnvironmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …
Water Services Regulation Authority
Economic regulator for the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales. Sets price limits, monitors service quality, and enforces environmental duties. …
Drinking Water Inspectorate
Regulates drinking water quality in England and Wales. Audits water companies, investigates water quality incidents, and approves products and substances used in …
Connected legislation
21 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Secondary legislation (21)
- The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 2007
- The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts (Amendment) and Water Act 2003 (Transitional Provision) Regulations 2006 2006
- The Water Abstraction (Revocations ) (England) Order 2017 2017
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2010 2010
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 11) Order 2012 2012
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 12) Order 2017 2017
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 2004
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2004 2004
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2) (Wales) Order 2004 2004
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 3) (England) Order 2005 2005
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 3) (Wales) Order 2012 2012
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 4, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005 2005
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 4) (Wales) Order 2017 2017
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 5, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005 2005
- The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 6, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2006 2006
+ 6 more statutory instruments
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.