What this covers
Why you need it
Parliament created it. The power to require it comes from Water Industry Act 1991.
What the Act carries
What our graph holds for Water Industry Act 1991 as a whole — the Act behind this licence, not the licence conditions themselves.
- Duties on businesses
- 138
- Penalties
- 54
- Exemptions
- 60
Duties on businesses under the Act
- Protect the environment and provide recreation on water-associated land s.3
- Comply with conditions and statutory duties as water/sewerage undertaker s.6
- Wilfully obstruct entry by water authority Schedule 6
- Carry out street works without consent of railway or navigation authority Schedule 13
- Carry out street works without required consent Schedule 13
- Comply with Ofwat requirements when applying for a water or sewerage licence s.17F
… and 132 more business duties in the same Act.
What happens if you get it wrong
- Contaminate a water source used for drinking or food production 2 years imprisonment
- Discharge prohibited matter into public sewers 2 years imprisonment
- Fail to comply with appeal requirements or give false statements 2 years imprisonment
- Unlawfully disclose confidential business information 2 years imprisonment
- Maintain and develop an efficient water supply system Unlimited fine
… and 49 more penalties in the same Act.
Exemptions that may take you outside it
- Bulk water supply agreements exempt from certain competition directions — The agreement is for the supply of water in bulk by a water undertaker to another water undertaker or a …
- Business owners may reclaim property from sewerage works within three days — Materials are claimed and removed by the owner within three days of removal
- Business premises exempt from free water meter installation — Premises which do not consist of or include any building or part of a building which is occupied as a …
- Consent refusals and work conditions must be reasonable — Consent applied for under section 175 (tampering with a meter) — the water company must not unreasonably refuse consent or …
- Emergency works exempt from pre-notification to wildlife bodies — Works carried out in an emergency, with particulars notified to the relevant authority as soon as practicable after the event
… and 55 more exemptions in the same Act.
Read our full dossier on Water Industry Act 1991
Who issues it
This one does not go to your council. It is issued by Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
Where to apply
Duty, penalty and exemption labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the enabling instrument, not the instrument itself. Fees, forms and conditions are set by the issuing authority — always check the linked source.