(1)The relevant authority must, where appropriate, take steps to encourage the conservation of water.
(2)The relevant authority is—
(a)the Secretary of State, in relation to England,
(b)the Assembly, in relation to Wales.
(3)After the period of three years beginning with the date on which this section comes into force, and after each succeeding period of three years, the Secretary of State must prepare a report about the steps taken by him under this section, and about any such steps which he proposes to take.
(4)The Assembly may make an order requiring the preparation by it of corresponding reports, and such an order may make provision about when, or in relation to what periods, they are to be prepared.
(5)Each such report must—
(a)if prepared by the Secretary of State, be laid before Parliament,
(b)if prepared by the Assembly, be laid before, and published by, the Assembly.
In section 3(2)(a) of the WIA (environmental duties in relation to proposals relating to the functions of a relevant undertaker), after “special interest” there is inserted “and, in the case of the exercise of such a power by a company holding an appointment as a relevant undertaker, as to further water conservation”.
(1)In exercising its functions and conducting its affairs, each public authority shall take into account, where relevant, the desirability of conserving water supplied or to be supplied to premises.
(2)In subsection (1), “public authority” means any of the following—
(a)a Minister of the Crown (within the meaning of the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 (c. 26)),
(b)a Government department,
(c)the Assembly,
(d)a local authority (within the meaning of section 270(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70)),
(e)a person holding an office—
(i)under the Crown,
(ii)created or continued in existence by a public general Act, or
(iii)the remuneration in respect of which is paid out of money provided by Parliament,
(f)a statutory undertaker (being any person who, by virtue of section 262 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8) is or is deemed to be a statutory undertaker for any purpose), and
(g)any other public body of any description.