Water Industry Act 1991

Connections between public sewers E+W

110 Determination of disputes with respect to cross boundary sewers. E+W

(1) Where any part of a sewer is vested in a sewerage undertaker by virtue of section 70 of the M1 Water Act 1989 (cross boundary sewers), the terms on which that part of that sewer—

(a) communicates with such parts of that sewer or of any other sewer; or

(b) discharges into any such sewage disposal works,

as immediately before 1st September 1989 were vested in the same water authority as that part of that sewer but, by virtue of that section, are vested in another sewerage undertaker shall be determined, in default of agreement, by the Director.

(2) A determination by the Director under this section shall have effect as an agreement between the sewerage undertakers in question but may be varied or revoked by a subsequent determination made by the Director on the application of either of those undertakers, as well as by agreement between the undertakers.

(3) In making a determination under this section, the Director shall have regard to the desirability of a sewerage undertaker’s recovering the costs resulting from its allowing the sewers of other sewerage undertakers to communicate with its sewers or to discharge into its sewage disposal works and of its securing a reasonable return on its capital.

Marginal Citations

M1 1989 c. 15.

[110A F1 New connections with public sewers. E+W

(1) Where, on the application of any qualifying person—

(a) it appears to the Director that it is necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Part that the sewerage undertaker specified in the application (“the established undertaker”) should permit a main connection into his sewerage system, and

(b) the Director is satisfied that the making of such a connection cannot be secured by agreement,

the Director may by order require the established undertaker to allow the connection for such period and on such terms and conditions as may be provided in the order.

(2) In this section “qualifying person” means—

(a) a sewerage undertaker; or

(b) a person who has made an application for an appointment or variation under section 8 above which has not been determined.

(3) In subsection (1) above a “main connection” means a connection—

(a) between a sewer or disposal main and a sewer or disposal main; or

(b) a connection which allows a sewer or disposal main to discharge directly into a sewage disposal works.

(4) Where the application is made by a person who is not a sewerage undertaker at the time when the application is made, an order made under this section in response to that application shall be expressed not to come into force until the applicant becomes a sewerage undertaker for the area specified in the order, or for an area which includes that area.

(5) Subject to subsection (4) above, an order under this section shall have effect as an agreement between the established undertaker and the applicant but may be varied or revoked by a subsequent order made by the Director on the application of either party to the agreement, as well as by agreement between the parties.

[F2 (6) The Authority shall not make an order under this section unless it has first consulted—

(a) the Environment Agency, where the proposed main connection would discharge to a sewerage system that would dispose of that discharge to any controlled waters in England;

(b) the NRBW, where the proposed main connection would discharge to a sewerage system that would dispose of that discharge to any controlled waters in Wales.]

(7) In exercising his functions under this section, the Director shall have regard to the desirability of—

(a) facilitating effective competition within the sewerage services industry;

(b) the existing undertaker’s recovering the expenses of complying with its obligations by virtue of this section and securing a reasonable return on its capital;

(c) the existing undertaker’s being able to meet its existing obligations, and likely future obligations, to provide sewerage services without having to incur unreasonable expenditure in carrying out works;

(d) not putting at risk the ability of the existing undertaker to meet its existing obligations, or likely future obligations, to provide such services.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 110A inserted (1.7.1992) by Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43), s. 45; Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I

F2 S. 110A(6) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 238 (with Sch. 7)