Water Act 2014

Part 1 Purposes for which provision may be made

Interpretation

1 In this Schedule—

• “fish regulations” means regulations containing provision which—

  (a)

  satisfies section 61(2)(c), or

  (b)

  is for the purpose mentioned in paragraph 8(2) or 30(3);

• “flood regulations” means regulations containing provision which—

  (a)

  satisfies section 61(2)(b), or

  (b)

  is for the purpose mentioned in paragraph 8(2) or 30(2);

• “water regulations” means regulations containing provision which—

  (a)

  satisfies section 61(2)(a), or

  (b)

  is for the purpose mentioned in paragraph 8(2) or 30(1).

2 In this Schedule—

• “functions” includes powers and duties;

• “regulated activity” means—

  (a)

  in relation to water regulations, the use of water resources;

  (b)

  in relation to flood regulations, any activity that affects, or could affect, the drainage of land, flood risk or the management of flood risk;

  (c)

  in relation to fish regulations, any activity that affects, or could affect, the movement of fish through regulated waters;

• “regulated field” means—

  (a)

  in relation to water regulations, regulating the use of water resources;

  (b)

  in relation to flood regulations, securing the drainage of land or the management of flood risk;

  (c)

  in relation to fish regulations, safeguarding the movement of fish through regulated waters;

• “the regulations” means regulations under section 61;

• “specified” means specified in the regulations.

Preliminary

3 (1) Establishing standards, objectives or requirements in relation to—

(a) regulated activities, and

(b) in the case of fish regulations, structures or obstructions that affect, or could affect, the movement of fish through regulated waters.

(2) In the case of water regulations, authorising the making of plans for—

(a) the setting of overall limits,

(b) the allocation of rights, or

(c) the progressive improvement of standards or objectives,

relating to the use of water resources.

(3) In the case of water regulations, authorising the making of schemes for the trading or other transfer of rights so allocated.

4 (1) Determining the authorities (whether public or local or the Minister) by whom functions conferred by the regulations—

(a) in relation to permits under the regulations, or

(b) otherwise for or in connection with the regulated field,

are to be exercisable (in this Schedule referred to as “regulators”).

(2) Specifying any purposes for which any such functions are to be exercisable by regulators.

5 Enabling the Minister to give directions which regulators are to comply with, or guidance which regulators are to have regard to, in exercising functions under the regulations, including—

(a) directions providing for any functions exercisable by one regulator to be instead exercisable by another;

(b) directions given for the purpose of the implementation of any obligations of the United Kingdom under the EU treaties or under any international agreement to which the United Kingdom is a party;

(c) directions relating to the exercise of any function in a particular case or class of case (except functions in relation to the investigation or prosecution, in a particular case, of an offence under the regulations).

Permits

6 Prohibiting persons from carrying on any activities of any specified description, except—

(a) under a permit in force under the regulations, and

(b) in accordance with any conditions to which the permit is subject.

7 Specifying restrictions or other requirements in connection with the grant of permits (including provisions for restricting the grant of permits to those who are fit and proper persons within the meaning of the regulations); and otherwise regulating the procedure to be followed in connection with the grant of permits.

8 (1) Prescribing the contents of permits.

(2) Authorising permits to be granted subject to conditions imposed by regulators (the nature of any such condition not being restricted by section 61(2)).

(3) Securing that permits have effect subject to—

(a) conditions specified in the regulations; or

(b) rules of general application specified in or made under the regulations.

9 (1) Requiring permits or the conditions to which permits are subject to be reviewed by regulators (whether periodically or in any specified circumstances).

(2) Authorising or requiring the variation of permits or such conditions by regulators (whether on applications made by holders of permits or otherwise).

(3) Regulating the making of changes in the carrying on of the activities.

10 (1) Regulating the transfer or surrender of permits.

(2) Authorising the revocation of permits by regulators.

(3) Authorising the imposition by regulators of requirements with respect to the taking of preventive action (by holders of permits or other persons) in connection with the surrender or revocation of permits.

11 Authorising the Minister to make schemes for the charging by regulators of fees or other charges in respect of, or in respect of an application for—

(a) the grant of a permit,

(b) the variation of a permit or the conditions to which it is subject, or

(c) the transfer or surrender of a permit,

or in respect of the subsistence of a permit.

12 Authorising, or authorising the Minister to make schemes for, the charging by the Minister or public or local authorities of fees or other charges in respect of—

(a) any advice given, or

(b) any testing, assessment or investigation done or other action taken,

in cases where the advice or action is in any way in anticipation of, or otherwise in connection with, the making of applications for the grant of permits or is carried out in pursuance of conditions to which any permit is subject.

Further regulation

13 (1) Requiring persons who propose to carry out activities of a specified description to give notice of their proposals to regulators.

(2) Requiring owners or occupiers of land to give notice to regulators of any obstruction of a specified description occurring on the land.

14 Requiring persons to apply for a permit under the regulations in respect of activities of a specified description.

15 (1) Authorising a regulator, where a person is carrying on an activity of a specified description—

(a) to serve notice on the person requiring them to cease carrying on the activity or, at their own cost, to take such action in connection with the activity as may be specified in the notice, or

(b) to arrange itself for action to be taken in connection with the activity.

(2) Authorising a regulator to—

(a) to serve notice on persons of a specified description requiring them, at their own cost, to take such action as may be specified in the notice, or

(b) to arrange itself for action to be taken,

in respect of a structure or obstruction of a specified description.

16 Imposing requirements, or authorising regulators to impose requirements, on persons of a specified description in relation to the operation and maintenance of specified structures.

Information, publicity and consultation

17 Enabling persons of any specified description (whether or not they are holders of permits) to be required—

(a) to compile information about—

(i) regulated activities, and

(ii) in the case of fish regulations, structures or obstructions that affect, or could affect, the movement of fish through regulated waters;

(b) to provide such information in such manner as is specified in the regulations.

18 Securing—

(a) that publicity is given to specified matters;

(b) that regulators maintain registers of specified matters (but excepting information which under the regulations is, or is determined to be, commercially confidential and subject to any other exceptions specified in the regulations) which are open to public inspection;

(c) that copies of entries in such registers, or of specified documents, may be obtained by members of the public.

19 Requiring or authorising regulators to carry out consultation in connection with the exercise of any of their functions; and providing for them to take into account representations made to them on consultation.

Enforcement and offences

20 (1) Conferring on regulators functions with respect to the monitoring and inspection of—

(a) the carrying on of regulated activities, or

(b) regulated structures or obstructions.

(2) Authorising regulators to appoint suitable persons to exercise any such functions and conferring on persons so appointed powers such as those specified in—

(a) sections 169 to 174 of the Water Resources Act 1991;

(b) section 108(4) of the Environment Act 1995;

(c) regulation 26 of the Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3344);

(d) sections 31 and 32 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

(3) Functions which may be conferred in reliance on sub-paragraph (1) include—

(a) power to take samples or to make copies of information;

(b) power to arrange for preventive or remedial action to be taken at the expense of holders of permits.

(4) In sub-paragraph (1) “regulated structures or obstructions” means structures or obstructions which—

(a) may be the subject of notices served by regulators under the regulations, or

(b) may be subject to requirements imposed under the regulations.

21 Authorising regulators to serve on holders of permits—

(a) notices requiring them to take remedial action in respect of contraventions, actual or potential, of conditions to which their permits are subject;

(b) notices requiring them to provide such financial security as the regulators serving the notices consider appropriate pending the taking of remedial action in respect of any such contraventions;

(c) notices requiring them to take steps to remove or reduce, or to mitigate the effect of the potential consequences of, the following imminent risks (whether or not arising from any such contraventions)—

(i) an imminent risk of a significant waste of water resources or of significant damage to the environment, in the case of water regulations;

(ii) an imminent risk of a significant impediment to drainage or of a flood, in the case of flood regulations;

(iii) an imminent risk of a significant impediment to the movement of fish through regulated waters, in the case of fish regulations.

22 Authorising regulators to suspend the operation of permits so far as having effect to authorise the carrying on of activities to which they relate.

23 Establishing a procedure for the resolution of disputes in relation to notices served by regulators under the regulations.

24 Providing for the enforcement of notices served by regulators under the regulations by proceedings in—

(a) the High Court, or

(b) in the case of fish regulations applying as mentioned in section 61(11)(b), the Sheriff Court.

25 Where action is required to be taken by a person under the regulations or pursuant to a notice served under the regulations, authorising regulators in specified circumstances to take action instead of that person; and making provision for the liability of that person in respect of reasonable costs incurred by the regulators in taking such action.

26 Creating offences and dealing with matters relating to such offences, including—

(a) the provision of defences, and

(b) evidentiary matters.

27 Enabling, where a person has been convicted of an offence under the regulations—

(a) a court dealing with that person for the offence to order the taking of remedial action (in addition to or instead of imposing any punishment), or

(b) a regulator to arrange for such action to be taken at that person’s expense.

28 Where a person causes damage to any structure constructed, altered or maintained by a regulator under these regulations, authorising the regulator to require the person to pay the expenses of the regulator in repairing the damage and providing for the manner in which such expenses may be recovered.

Appeals

29 Conferring rights of appeal in respect of decisions made, notices served or other things done (or omitted to be done) under the regulations; and making provision for (or for the determination of) matters relating to the making, considering and determination of such appeals (including provision for or in connection with the holding of inquiries or hearings).

Corresponding provision

30 (1) Making provision which, subject to any modifications that the Minister considers appropriate, corresponds or is similar to any provision made by or under, or capable of being made under—

(a) section 71 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (waste from water sources);

(b) Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Water Resources Act 1991 (abstraction and impounding);

(c) Part 1 of the Water Act 2003 (abstraction and impounding).

(2) Making provision which, subject to any modifications that the Minister considers appropriate, corresponds or is similar to—

(a) any provision made by section 339 of the Highways Act 1980 (saving for works etc of drainage authorities etc);

(b) any provision made by or under, or capable of being made under, sections 109 and 110 of the Water Resources Act 1991 (erecting structures over main rivers etc prohibited without consent);

(c) any provision made by any byelaw, or capable of being made by any byelaw, under paragraph 5 of Schedule 25 to that Act (byelaws for flood defence and drainage purposes).

(3) Making provision which, subject to any modifications that the Minister considers appropriate, corresponds or is similar to—

(a) sections 9 to 15 and 18 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (obstructions to passage of fish);

(b) Part 4 of the Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3344) (passage of eels).

(4) Each reference to an enactment in sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) is a reference to that enactment as it has effect on the coming into force of that sub-paragraph.

(5) Provision made under this paragraph is not subject to the requirement in section 61(2).

Crown application

31 Making provision about the application of the regulations to the Crown.