(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order confers new powers on the Department of the Environment with respect to the quality of water, introduces an offence of contaminating, wasting or misusing water, empowers that Department to make provision to regulate against such contamination, waste and misuse and to give effect to any international obligations, and makes miscellaneous amendments to the law relating to water and sewerage services.
The principal amendments are to the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 and to other statutory provisions and concern—
(a)the exclusion of a right of appeal in respect to costs or charges (Article 5);
(b)the appointment of assessors to assist members of the Water Appeals Commission (Article 6);
(c)a re-statement of the procedure for applications for water or sewerage services (Article 7);
(d)an extension of the time within which summary proceedings for offences may be commenced (Article 12);
(e)the registration of certain agreements, notices or other matters in the Statutory Charges Register (Article 15);
(f)the prevention of pollution (Article 16);
(g)the increase in the penalty for polluting water (Article 17).