The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

Water resources management plans: preparation and review

70.—(1) It shall be the duty of each water undertaker to prepare and maintain a water resources management plan.

(2) A water resources management plan is a plan for how the water undertaker will manage and develop water resources so as to be able, and continue to be able, to meet its obligations under this Part.

(3) A water resources management plan shall address in particular—

(a) the water undertaker’s estimate of the quantities of water required to meet those obligations;

(b) the measures which the water undertaker intends to take or continue for the purpose set out in paragraph (2);

(c) the likely sequence and timing for implementing those measures; and

(d) such other matters as the Department may specify in directions.

(4) The procedure for preparing a water resources management plan (including a revised plan) is set out in Article 71.

(5) Before each anniversary of the date when its plan (or revised plan) was last published, the water undertaker shall—

(a) review its plan; and

(b) send a statement of the conclusions of its review to the Department.

(6) The water undertaker shall prepare a revised plan in each of the following cases—

(a) following conclusion of its annual review, if the review indicated a material change of circumstances;

(b) if directed to do so by the Department, after consultation with DOE;

(c) in any event, not later than the end of the period of 5 years beginning with the date when the plan (or revised plan) was last published,

and shall follow the procedure in Article 71 (whether or not the revised plan prepared by the undertaker includes any proposed alterations to the previous plan).

(7) The Department may give directions specifying—

(a) the form which a water resources management plan must take;

(b) the planning period to which a water resources management plan must relate.

(8) Before preparing its water resources management plan (including a revised plan), the water undertaker shall consult—

(a) the Authority;

(b) the Council;

(c) the Department; and

(d) DOE.

(9) In this Article, in relation to a water resources management plan, “published” means published in accordance with Article 71(8)(a).