Water Industry Act 1991

[F1 [F2 66C Introduction of water provided by secondary water undertaker E+W

(1) This section applies where a water supply licensee with a wholesale authorisation (“L1”)—

(a) requests a water undertaker other than L1's primary water undertaker (the “secondary water undertaker”) to provide a supply of water so that water may be supplied to particular premises, using the primary water undertaker's supply system and in accordance with a retail authorisation (whether L1's or another's), and

(b) requests L1's primary water undertaker to permit L1 to introduce that water into the primary water undertaker's supply system,

and the premises in issue are in the area of the primary water undertaker.

A request under paragraph (a) may only be made to a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in England.

(2) This section also applies where a water supply licensee with a wholesale authorisation (“L2”)—

(a) requests a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in Wales and which is not L2's primary water undertaker (the “secondary water undertaker”) to provide a supply of water so that L2 may supply water to particular premises, using the primary water undertaker's supply system and in accordance with L2's retail authorisation so far as that authorisation relates to L2's customers, and

(b) requests L2's primary water undertaker to permit L2 to introduce that water into the primary water undertaker's supply system,

and the premises in issue are in the area of the primary water undertaker.

(3) This section also applies where a water supply licensee with a wholesale authorisation (“L3”)—

(a) agrees with a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in Wales and which is not L3's primary undertaker (the “secondary water undertaker”) for the secondary water undertaker to provide a supply of water so that water may be supplied to particular premises, using the primary water undertaker's supply system and in accordance with—

(i) L3's retail authorisation except so far as that authorisation relates to L3's customers, or

(ii) a retail authorisation other than L3's, and

(b) requests L3's primary water undertaker to permit L3 to introduce that water into the primary water undertaker's supply system,

and the premises in issue are in the area of the primary water undertaker.

(4) This section also applies where a water supply licensee with a supplementary authorisation (“R”)—

(a) requests a water undertaker other than R's primary water undertaker (the “secondary water undertaker”) to provide a supply of water so that R may supply water to particular premises, using the primary water undertaker's supply system and in accordance with R's restricted retail authorisation, and

(b) requests R's primary water undertaker to permit R to introduce that water into the primary water undertaker's supply system,

and the premises in issue are in the area of the primary water undertaker.

A request under paragraph (a) may be made to a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in England or Wales.

(5) Where this section applies by virtue of subsection (1), (2) or (4), the secondary water undertaker must in accordance with a section 66D agreement—

(a) take such steps in respect of its supply system as may be provided for in that agreement in order to enable it to provide the requested supply, and

(b) having taken such steps, provide that supply.

(6) Where this section applies, the primary water undertaker must in accordance with a section 66D agreement—

(a) take such steps—

(i) for the purpose of connecting the secondary water undertaker's supply system with the primary water undertaker's supply system, or

(ii) in respect of its supply system,

as may be provided for in that agreement in order to enable L1, L2, L3 or R to make the requested introduction of water into the primary undertaker's supply system, and

(b) having taken such steps, permit the requested introduction.

(7) A secondary water undertaker is not required by this section to provide a supply of water to L1, L2 or R if providing the supply of water would—

(a) require the secondary undertaker, in order to meet all its existing obligations to supply water for domestic or other purposes, together with its probable future obligations to supply buildings and parts of buildings with water for domestic purposes, to incur unreasonable expenditure in carrying out works, or

(b) otherwise put at risk its ability to meet any of the existing or probable future obligations mentioned in paragraph (a).

(8) A primary water undertaker is not required by this section to permit the introduction of water into its supply system, or to take any steps to enable such an introduction of water, if permitting the introduction of a supply of water would—

(a) require the primary undertaker, in order to meet all its existing obligations to supply water for domestic or other purposes, together with its probable future obligations to supply buildings and parts of buildings with water for domestic purposes, to incur unreasonable expenditure in carrying out works, or

(b) otherwise put at risk its ability to meet any of the existing or probable future obligations mentioned in paragraph (a).

(9) Where—

(a) a request has been made by a water supply licensee to a water undertaker for the purposes of subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4), and

(b) the steps which the undertaker is required to take by virtue of that request include steps for the purpose of obtaining any necessary authority for, or agreement to, any exercise by it of any of its powers or the carrying out by it of any works,

the failure of the undertaker to acquire the necessary authority or agreement does not affect the liability of the licensee to reimburse the undertaker in respect of some or all of the expenses incurred by it in taking those steps, if the section 66D agreement provides for such liability as regards those steps.

(10) A pipe laid because of subsection (6)(a)(i) is to be regarded as a water main for the purposes of this Act, subject to any provision to the contrary.

(11) For the purposes of this section, a water undertaker is the primary water undertaker of a water supply licensee if the undertaker's supply system is to be used for the purpose of making the supply to the premises mentioned in subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4).]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 3 Ch. 2A inserted (1.4.2004 for specified provisions and purposes and 1.12.2005 otherwise) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 56, 105(3), Sch. 4 para. 3; S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(l), Sch. 1 (with art. 6, Sch. 3); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 3(a) (with Sch. 2 para. 8)

F2 S. 66A-66C and cross-heading substituted (1.4.2017 for the substitution of ss. 66A, 66AA, 66C) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 2 para. 1; S.I. 2017/462, art. 3(i)(i) (with arts. 6-9, 12)