This Act makes provision with respect to the management and conservation of water resources in England and Wales. It aims at the sustainable use of water resources, the protection of water consumer interests and the strengthening of competition in the field of water services and the promotion of water conservation.
The Act amends the Water Resources Act 1991 to improve long-term water resource management by: creating two new forms of abstraction licence; regulating anew abstraction and irrigation rights; empowering the Environment Agency to revoke or vary an abstraction licence without compensation if it has not been used for four years; and removing the entitlement to compensation if the Secretary of State directs that a licence without a time limit should be curtailed on the grounds of serious environmental damage. It also amends the Water Industry Act 1991 so as to require water companies to prepare and publicise drought plans, to agree on and publicise water resource management plans and to further water conservation. The Act further makes provision for the better operation and regulation of the water industry, concerns flood-defence, includes provisions which aim to increase the opportunities for competition in the supply of water services and in general provides for the improvement of competition in the water industry, sustainable use of water resources and water conservation.
The Act amends the Water Resources Act 1991 to improve long-term water resource management by: creating two new forms of abstraction licence; regulating anew abstraction and irrigation rights; empowering the Environment Agency to revoke or vary an abstraction licence without compensation if it has not been used for four years; and removing the entitlement to compensation if the Secretary of State directs that a licence without a time limit should be curtailed on the grounds of serious environmental damage. It also amends the Water Industry Act 1991 so as to require water companies to prepare and publicise drought plans, to agree on and publicise water resource management plans and to further water conservation. The Act further makes provision for the better operation and regulation of the water industry, concerns flood-defence, includes provisions which aim to increase the opportunities for competition in the supply of water services and in general provides for the improvement of competition in the water industry, sustainable use of water resources and water conservation.
This Act makes provision with respect to the management and conservation of water resources in England and Wales. It aims at the sustainable use of water resources, the protection of water consumer interests and the strengthening of competition in the field of water services and the promotion of water conservation.
This Act amends other legislation, specified in the Schedule to the Act.Last textual amendment was made by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Fines on Summary Conviction) Regulations 2015.tatus: This version of this Act contains provisions that are prospective. The Water Act 2003 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 December 2020. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes.
Title:
Water Act 2003 (Chapter 37).
Country:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Type of document:
Legislation
ECOLEX regions:
ECOLEX URL:
Files:
Repealed:
No
Amends
Implemented by