Last amended by Water Act 2014 in 2014. Introduced retail competition for non-household customers and reformed Ofwat's powers and the licensing regime.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Water Industry Act 1991 is the principal statute regulating the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. It places appointed water and sewerage undertakers (the regional water companies) under core duties — to develop and maintain an efficient and economical water supply system, and to provide and maintain a system of public sewers — and gives customers rights such as the right to connect to a public sewer (s.106). It establishes the economic regulator (the Water Services Regulation Authority, Ofwat), which controls charges through periodic price reviews and enforces standards, and it regulates drinking-water quality, trade-effluent discharges to public sewers, and the metering and disconnection of supplies. The Act also creates criminal offences, including contaminating or wasting water from public supplies.
Key Points
- Water undertakers must develop and maintain an efficient water supply system and supply wholesome water for domestic purposes (s.52)
- Sewerage undertakers must provide and maintain a system of public sewers (s.94)
- Right to connect to a public sewer (s.106)
- Ofwat (the Water Services Regulation Authority) regulates charges through periodic price reviews and enforces standards
- Trade-effluent discharges to a public sewer require consent (Part IV, Chapter III)
- Criminal offences including contaminating or wasting water from public supplies
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2014 — Water Act 2014
Introduced retail competition for non-household customers and reformed Ofwat's powers and the licensing regime.
2003 — Water Act 2003
Reformed abstraction licensing and water-conservation duties and recast the economic regulator as the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) board.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the main purpose of the Water Industry Act 1991?
- The Water Industry Act 1991 is the principal statute regulating the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. It places regional water companies under core duties to develop efficient water supply systems and maintain public sewers. It also establishes the economic regulator, Ofwat, and regulates drinking-water quality, trade-effluent discharges, and metering.
- Do water companies have to supply clean water to my home?
- Section 52 requires water undertakers to provide a supply of wholesome water for domestic purposes to premises in their area upon request. The Act further mandates that water supplied for domestic or food-production purposes must be wholesome at the time of supply to ensure safety and quality for consumers.
- Do I need permission to discharge trade effluent into a public sewer?
- No, it is unlawful to discharge trade effluent into a public sewer without the consent of the sewerage undertaker. This requirement is outlined in Part IV, Chapter III of the Act, ensuring that industrial or commercial waste is managed appropriately before entering the public sewer system.
- What are the criminal offences under the Water Industry Act 1991?
- The Act creates criminal offences for actions that harm the water supply, specifically including contaminating or wasting water from public supplies. These provisions are designed to protect the integrity of the water system and ensure that public resources are not misused or damaged by individuals or businesses.