(1)The Corporation may use for the discharge of any water pumped or found by them during the construction of the works any sewer or drain of a relevant authority in whose area the works may be constructed and for that purpose may lay down, take up and alter conduits, pipes and other works and make any convenient connections with any such sewer or drain within the limits of deviation but—
(a)the Corporation shall not discharge any water into any sewer or drain vested in or under the control of a relevant authority except with the consent of the relevant authority and subject to such terms and conditions as the relevant authority may reasonably impose; and
(b)the Corporation shall not make any opening into any such sewer or drain save in accordance with plans approved by, and under the superintendence (if given) of, the relevant authority in whom the sewer or drain shall be vested and approval of those plans by the relevant authority shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(2)(a)Section 85 of the [1991 c. 57.] Water Resources Act 1991 shall apply to, or to the consequence of, a discharge under the powers of this section into any controlled waters within the meaning given by section 104 of that Act as if this section were not a local statutory provision for the purposes of section 88 (1) (f) of that Act.
(b)In the exercise of their powers under this section the Corporation shall not damage or interfere with the bed of any watercourse forming part of a main river or the banks thereof within the meaning of section 113 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
(3)The Corporation shall take all such steps as may reasonably be required to secure that any water discharged by them under the powers of this section shall be as free as may be reasonably practicable from any gravel, soil or other solid substance or oil or matter in suspension.
(4)Any difference arising between the Corporation and a relevant authority under this section shall be referred to and settled by arbitration.
(5)In this section“relevant authority” means Thames Water Utilities Limited, the National Rivers Authority or Tower Hamlets London borough council.