23Fixing of charges for water services
(1)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make such provision for or in connection with the fixing of charges for the provision of water services as they consider necessary or expedient for the purposes of protection of the water environment.
(2)Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular, make provision for securing that, in the fixing of such charges, account is taken of such principles, objectives or other matters as are specified in the regulations.
(3)Before making any regulations under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult such persons as they think fit.
(4)In this section, “water services” means services which provide, for households, public institutions or any economic activity—
(a)abstraction (as defined in section 20(6)), impoundment, storage, treatment and distribution of surface water or groundwater,
(b)waste-water collection and treatment facilities which subsequently discharge into surface water.