1.— (1) This Act may be cited as the Water Services Act 2007.

(2) The Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 and 2003, section 107 and this subsection may be cited together as the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 to 2007, and shall be read together as one.

(3) The Housing Finance Agency Acts 1981 to 1992, section 108 and this subsection may be cited together as the Housing Finance Agency Acts 1981 to 2007, and shall be read together as one.

(4) The Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 and 1990, sections 109 and 110 and this subsection may be cited together as the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 to 2007, and shall be read together as one.

(5) The Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2006, section 111 and this subsection may be cited together as the Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2007, and shall be read together as one.

(6) The Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006, section 114 and this subsection may be cited together as the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2007, and shall be read together as one.

(7) The Local Government Acts 1925 to 2006, sections 13 and 115 and this subsection may be cited together as the Local Government Acts 1925 to 2007, and shall be read together as one.

2.— (1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

“abstraction”, in relation to water contained in any source of water, means the doing of anything whereby any of that water is removed from that source of water, whether temporarily or permanently, including anything whereby the water is so removed for the purpose of being transferred to another source of water;

“Act of 1962” means Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1962;

“Act of 1977” means Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977;

“Act of 1990” means Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act 1990;

“Act of 1992” means Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992;

“Act of 1996” means Waste Management Act 1996;

“Act of 2000” means Planning and Development Act 2000;

“Act of 2001” means Local Government Act 2001;

“accessories”, in relation to a waterworks, waste water works, water main, sewer or other pipe, includes any manholes, ventilating shafts, inspection chambers, overflow weirs or chambers, valves, tanks, sluices, culverts, wash-out pipes or stopcocks for them, or any machinery or other apparatus which is designed or adapted for use in connection with the use or maintenance of the waterworks, waste water works, main, sewer or other pipe or of another accessory;

“Agency” means the Environmental Protection Agency;

“agriculture” includes horticulture, apiculture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming, the breeding and keeping of livestock (including pigs, poultry and any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur, or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land), the training of horses and the rearing of bloodstock, the use of land as grazing land, meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds and the making and storage of silage;

F1[“allowance amount” means the allowance specified by order under subsection (1)(b) or (4)(b) of section 53B (inserted by section 9 of the Water Services Act 2017);]

“aquaculture” has the same meaning as it has in the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997;

“authorised person” means a person who is—

(a) appointed in writing by the Minister, F2[Irish Water,] a water services authority or such other person as may be prescribed to be an authorised person for the purposes of this Act or any part or section of it, or

(b) appointed in writing to be an authorised person by regulations under this Act by a person specified in those regulations;

“authorised provider of water services”, or any similar construction, means a holder of a licence under Part 6, Chapter 2 or a person to whom section 79(4) applies;

F1[“average rate” has the meaning assigned to it by section 53A (inserted by section 8 of the Water Services Act 2017);]

“Board” means An Bord Pleanála;

“charge”, except where the context otherwise requires, includes fee;

F1[“Commission” means—

(a) before 2 October 2017, the Commission for Energy Regulation, and

(b) by virtue of the Change of Name of Commission for Energy Regulation to Commission for Regulation of Utilities (Appointed Day) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 397 of 2017), on and from 2 October 2017, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities;]

F1[“customer” has the meaning assigned to it by the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013;]

“development” has the meaning assigned to it by section 3 of the Act of 2000;

“development plan” means a development plan adopted under section 9(1) of the Act of 2000;

“distribution system” means a pipe and its related fittings, that is used, or to be used as the case may be, to convey water into or through one or more premises (including any related internal or external taps), other than—

(a) a service connection,

(b) where it is owned by, vested in or controlled by—

(i) a water services authority,

(ii) an authorised provider of water services, or

(iii) a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services,

and in the case of water used in manufacturing, including food or drinks production, includes the point where water is used in the undertaking;

“domestic waste water” means waste water of a composition and concentration (biological and chemical) normally discharged by a household, and which originates predominantly from the human metabolism or from day to day domestic type human activities, including washing and sanitation, but does not include fats, oils, grease or food particles discharged from a premises in the course of, or in preparation for, providing a related service or carrying on a related trade;

“drain” means a drainage pipe, or system of such pipes and related fittings for collection of waste water, that is not owned by, vested in or controlled by a water services authority, an authorised provider of water services, or a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services, and that is not a service connection, which is used, or to be used as the case may be, to convey waste water from one or more premises or to any waste water treatment system on a premises where the waste water is generated;

F1[“dwelling” means a premises occupied by a person as his or her place of private residence (whether or not as his or her principal private residence);]

“enactment” means an Act, Statute or Statutory Instrument or any portion of an Act, Statute or Statutory Instrument;

“EU Water Framework Directive” means Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy ¹;

“groundwater” means all water below the land surface that is not in a pipe or similarly contained;

“internal distribution system” means that part of a distribution system, within the curtilage of a premises, which is used for the provision of water for human consumption or food or drinks production;

“land” includes any structure and any land covered with water (whether inland or coastal), any substratum of land and, in relation to the acquisition of land, any pipe running through, under or over land, or any interest or right in or over land (including an interest or right granted by or held from the person acquiring the land);

“Minister” means Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government;

“monitoring” includes inspection, measurement, sampling or analysis, whether periodically or continuously;

“network” means the works forming the system for the distribution of water supply or for the collection of waste water;

“occupier” includes any person entitled to occupy a premises and any other person having, for the time being, control of the premises;

“owner” means, in relation to a premises, a person, other than a mortgagee not in possession, who, whether in his or her own right or as a trustee or agent for any other person, is entitled to receive the rent of the premises or, where the premises are not let at a rent, would be so entitled if they were so let;

“parametric values” has the same meaning as it has in Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption ²;

“pipe” includes—

(a) any sewer, water main, service connection, drain, channel, culvert, drainage pipe, and

(b) any system of such pipes, accessories and related fittings, including meters,

that is used, designed or intended to be used to collect, store, distribute or measure water, waste water, domestic waste water or trade effluent;

“polluter pays principle” means the principle set out in Council Recommendation 75/436/Euratom, ECSC, EEC of 3 March, 1975 ³ regarding cost allocation and action by public authorities on environmental matters;

“premises” includes any building, vessel, vehicle, structure or land (whether or not there are structures on the land and whether or not the land is covered with water), and any plant or related accessories on or under such land, or any hereditament of tenure, together with any out-buildings and curtilage;

“prescribe” means prescribe by regulations made by the Minister under this Act, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“public authority” means:

(a) a Minister of the Government;

(b) a local authority within the meaning of the Act of 2001;

(c) the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland;

(d) a harbour authority within the meaning of the Harbours Acts 1946 to 2005;

(e) a harbour company under the Harbours Acts 1996 to 2005;

(f) the Health Service Executive;

(g) a board or other body (but not including a company under the Companies Acts) established by or under statute;

(h) a company under the Companies Acts, in which all the shares are held—

(i) by or on behalf of or jointly with a Minister of the Government,

(ii) by directors appointed by a Minister of the Government, or

(iii) by a board, company or other body referred to in paragraph (g) or subparagraph (i) or (ii),

or

(i) any other person as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister for the purposes of any provision of this Act;

F1[“recommended allowance” has the meaning assigned to it by section 53A (inserted by section 8 of the Water Services Act 2017);]

“service connection” means a water supply pipe or drainage pipe, together with any accessories and related fittings, extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the outer edge of the boundary to the curtilage of a premises, and used, or to be used as the case may be, for the purpose of connecting one or more premises with a waterworks or waste water works, and, where used or to be used for connecting more than one such premises it shall extend to the outer edge of the boundary to the curtilage of the premises which is furthermost from the said waterworks or waste water works;

“sewage” and “sewage effluent” have the meanings assigned to them by the Act of 1977;

“sewer” means drainage pipes and sewers of every description, including storm water sewers, owned by, vested in or controlled by a water services authority, an authorised provider of water services or a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services, but does not include a drain or service connection;

“source” means any lake, pool, river, pond, stream, impoundment, spring or aquifer from which water is or at any time may be obtained;

“storm water” means run-off rainwater that enters any pipe;

“structure” means any building, erection, structure, excavation, or other thing constructed, erected, or made on, in or under any land, or any part of a structure so defined, and, where the context so admits, includes the land on, in, or under which the structure is situated;

“surface water” means all rainwater or other water that is not in a pipe, but is on the surface of the land;

“technical requirements”, in relation to a pipe and its fittings, means the appropriate capacity for the anticipated level of usage of the pipe, taking account of the standard sizes in which pipes and fittings are generally manufactured;

F1[“threshold amount” means the threshold amount specified by order under subsection (1)(a) or (4)(a) of section 53B (inserted by section 9 of the Water Services Act 2017);]

“trade” includes agriculture, aquaculture and any scientific research or experiment;

“trade effluent” means effluent from any works, apparatus, plant or drainage pipe used for the disposal to a waste water works of any liquid (whether treated or untreated), either with or without particles of matter in suspension therein, which is discharged from premises used for carrying on any trade or industry (including mining), but does not include domestic waste water or storm water;

“treatment systems” includes systems involving physical, chemical, biological or thermal processes, or combinations of processes, utilised for treatment of water or waste water, or the sludge derived therefrom;

“urban waste water” means domestic waste water or the mixture of domestic waste water with industrial waste water;

“waste water” means sewage, storm water or other effluent discharged, or to be discharged, to a drain, service connection or sewer;

“waste water works” means sewers and their accessories, and all other associated physical elements used for collection, storage or treatment of waste water, and any related land, which are owned by, vested in, controlled or used by any person providing or intending to provide water services;

“water main” means water supply pipes owned by, vested in or controlled by a water services authority, an authorised provider of water services or a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services, but does not include pipes, fittings and appliances to which the words “distribution system” or “service connection” interpreted in this section apply;

“water services” means all services, including the provision of water intended for human consumption, which provide storage, treatment or distribution of surface water, groundwater or water supplied by a water services authority, or waste water collection, storage, treatment or disposal, but does not include—

(a) provision by a person of pipes and related accessories for the distribution of water, or collection of waste water, to facilitate the subsequent connection by a provider of water services of another person to a water supply or waste water collection service, and

(b) such other exemptions as the Minister may prescribe, for the purposes of the application of licensing provisions under Part 6;

“water services authority” means a County Council or a City Council as defined in the Act of 2001, and, subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed, and where the context permits, any references to a sanitary authority or local authority in any legislation, in so far as it relates to functions of that authority in relation to water services, shall be regarded as a reference to a water services authority;

“waters” has the meaning assigned to it by the Act of 1977;

“waterworks” means water sources, water mains and their accessories, and all other associated physical elements used for the abstraction, treatment, storage or distribution of water, and any related land, which are owned by, vested in, controlled or used by any person providing or intending to provide water services;

“works” except where the context otherwise requires includes waterworks and waste water works.

(2) A reference in this Act to contravention of a provision includes, where appropriate, a reference to refusal or failure to comply with that provision.

(3) A reference in this Act to the provision of a service shall be construed as including references to the rendering, the supply, the grant, the issue or provision otherwise of the service, and kindred words shall be construed accordingly.

3.— This Act comes into operation on such day or days as, by order or orders made by the Minister under this section, may be fixed either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision and different days may be so fixed for different purposes and different provisions.

4.— (1) The Acts specified in Schedule 1 are repealed to the extent specified in column 3 of that Schedule opposite the mention of the Act concerned.

(2) Article 9 of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 254 of 2001) is revoked.

5.— The purpose for which this Act is enacted includes giving effect to so much of the following as relates to water services:

F3[(a) Directive 2014/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014⁶ on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of measuring instruments (recast);]

(b) Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment ⁵;

(c) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy ⁶;

(d) Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption ⁷;

(e) Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998 amending Council Directive 91/271/EEC with respect to certain requirements established in Annex 1 thereof ⁸;

(f) Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources ⁹;

(g) Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste water treatment ¹⁰;

(h) Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture ¹¹;

(i) Council Directive 80/68/EEC of 17 December 1979 on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances ¹²;

F4[(j) Council Directive 76/464/EEC of 4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community ¹³,]

F5[(k) Directive 2008/98 /EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives ¹⁴.]

6.— (1) The Minister, a F6[water services authority, F7[…] Irish Water] or any prescribed person may, for the purposes of discharging his or her or its functions under this Act, by notice in writing given to or served on a person who is—

(a) providing water services,

(b) making, causing or permitting a discharge to a drain, service connection or waste water works, or

(c) in receipt of a water supply,

require the person to keep such records or to give to the Minister, a F6[water services authority, F7[…] Irish Water] or other prescribed person, in writing or otherwise as may be specified, within such period (being not less than 14 days) beginning on the date of the giving or serving of the notice as may be specified in the notice, such particulars as may be so specified in relation to any of those activities or practices, and such other information (if any) as he or she or it may consider necessary for the purposes of those functions.

(2) A person who—

(a) fails or refuses to comply with a requirement in a notice under this section,

(b) in purported compliance with such a requirement gives to the Minister, a F6[water services authority, F7[…] Irish Water] or other prescribed body information that, to his or her knowledge, is false or is misleading in a material respect, or

(c) in relation to an application for a licence or consent, or to an application for financial assistance, or to the provision of any information required under this Act or any regulations thereunder provides information which is to his or her knowledge false or misleading,

commits an offence.

(3) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section in relation to the provision of false or misleading information in connection with an application for a licence under this Act, any licence issued to that person consequent on the application to which the information was furnished shall stand revoked from the date of the conviction.

(4) Without prejudice to section 19(1)(f), the Minister may make regulations in relation to the provision of information or documents in electronic form by any person for the purposes of this Act.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4), regulations under this section may—

(a) provide for—

(i) specification of the circumstances in which information or documents may be provided in electronic form,

(ii) related technical and procedural requirements,

(iii) consent to the giving or receipt of information in electronic form,

(iv) retention and reproduction of information or documents given in electronic form, or

(v) related and ancillary matters, and

(b) apply to a particular class or classes of information or document, or for a particular period.

(6) Subsection (4) applies without prejudice to any other enactment requiring or permitting documents or other information to be given, retained or produced, as the case may be, in accordance with specified procedural requirements or particular information technology.

(7) In this section, “electronic form” means information that is generated, communicated, processed, sent, received, recorded, stored or displayed by electronic means and is capable of being used to make a legible copy or reproduction of that communicated information, but does not include information communicated in the form of speech and such electronic means includes electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electro-magnetic, biometric, photonic and any other form of related technology.

7.— (1) A F8[water services authority, F9[…] Irish Water] or other prescribed person may for any purposes connected with this Act, by notice in writing, require the occupier of any land or any person receiving, whether for himself or herself or for another, rent from any land to inform it or him or her within a specified period ending not less than 14 days after being so required, of particulars of—

(a) the estate,

(b) interest or right by virtue of which he or she occupies such land or receives such rent, as the case may be, and

(c) the name and address (so far as known to him or her) of every person who to his or her knowledge has an estate or interest in or right over or in respect of such land.

(2) A person who is required to provide any particulars under subsection (1) who—

(a) fails to provide those particulars within the specified period, or

(b) when stating such particulars makes a statement which to his or her knowledge is false or misleading in a material respect,

commits an offence.

8.— (1) A person who commits an offence under section 19(4) or 56(20) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €100.

(2) A person who commits an offence under section 7(2), 30(7)(b), 30(10), 42(9)(a), 43(17), 45, 49(6), 56(4), 56(15), 56(18), 62(8), 72(6), 74(4)(b), 80(6) or 104(12) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000.

(3) A person who commits an offence under section 6(2), 33(3), 53(1), 55(1)(a), 55(11), 61(1)(a), 61(2), 61(12), 63(12)(a), 74(1) or 74(3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or both.

(4) A person who commits an offence under section 12(1), 22(7), 31(15), 31(20), 32(5), 54(6), 57, 58(4), 59(2), 60(2), 63(11), 63(17), 69(7), 70(10) or 79(5) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €15,000,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both.

(5) In imposing any penalty under subsection (2), (3) or (4), the court shall, in particular, have regard to the risk or extent of injury to human health or the environment arising from the act or omission constituting the offence, and to the polluter pays principle.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), a court of competent jurisdiction may order up to the limit of its jurisdiction that a person guilty of an offence under this Act, in addition to any penalty imposed by the court in accordance with this section, shall carry out all necessary remedial works directed by the court to be necessary towards making good any damage caused by the offence.

(7) If the person who brought the prosecution is willing to undertake some or all of the necessary remedial work, and indicates this to the court, the court may order that the person may do that work, or arrange for it to be carried out on behalf of or jointly with that person, in lieu of the convicted party, and that the cost of the work, undertaken by the person who brought the prosecution, and agreed by the court to have been necessary work towards making good the damage caused by the offence, shall be payable by the convicted party.

9.— (1) Summary proceedings for an offence under this Act F10[or section 23A(6) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013] may be brought by a water services authority F11[…].

(2) F11[…]

(3) Notwithstanding section 10(4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851, summary proceedings for any offence under this Act F10[or section 23A(6) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013] may be commenced—

(a) at any time within 12 months from the date on which the offence was committed,

(b) if, at the expiry of that period, the person against whom the proceedings are to be brought is outside the State, within 6 months of the date on which he or she next enters the State, or

(c) at any time within 6 months from the date on which evidence that, in the opinion of the person by whom the proceedings are brought, is sufficient to justify the bringing of the proceedings, comes to that person’s knowledge,

whichever is the later, provided that no such proceedings shall be commenced later than 5 years from the date on which the offence concerned was committed.

(4) For the purpose of this section, a certificate signed by or on behalf of or jointly with the person bringing the proceedings as to the date on which evidence relating to the offence concerned came to his or her knowledge shall be prima facie evidence and in any legal proceedings a document purporting to be a certificate issued for the purpose of this subsection and to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed and shall be admitted as evidence without proof of the signature of the person purporting to sign the certificate.

(5) Where two or more persons are liable by virtue of this Act for the same damage, they shall be liable jointly and severally as concurrent wrongdoers within the meaning of Part III of the Civil Liability Act 1961.

10.— (1) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Act F12[or section 23A(6) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013], the court shall, unless it is satisfied that there are special and substantial reasons for not doing so, order the person to pay to—

(a) a water services authority, or

(b) another person,

the costs and expenses, measured by the court, incurred by the water services authority or other person in relation to the investigation, detection or prosecution of the offence.

(2) Costs and expenses referred to in subsection (1) may include costs and expenses incurred in relation to any one or more of the following:

(a) the taking of samples;

(b) the carrying out of tests;

(c) examinations and analyses; and

(d) the remuneration and other expenses of directors, employees, consultants and advisers.

11.— (1) Where a court imposes a fine or affirms or varies a fine imposed by another court for an offence under this Act, it shall, on the application of the water services authority F13[…] (made before the time of such imposition, affirmation or variation), provide by order for the payment of the amount of the fine to the water services authority F13[…].

(2) Payment to be paid under subsection (1) may be enforced by the water services authority F13[…] as if it were due on foot of a decree or order made by the court in civil proceedings.

12.— (1) A person who obstructs or interferes with—

(a) the exercise by a water services authority or any other prescribed person of powers vested in it or him or her under, or by virtue of, this Act, or

(b) the compliance by any person, including the owner or occupier of a premises, with the provisions of this Act or of any notice, direction or order issued under it,

commits an offence.

(2) The owner or occupier of a premises to which subsection (1)(b) applies may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for an order against the person who is causing the obstruction or interference referred to in subsection (1) directing that person to cease the obstruction or interference complained of.

(3) An order under subsection (2), or the refusal of an order under that subsection, shall not affect any requirement or obligation under this Act on an owner or occupier or other relevant person.

13.— In any prosecution for an offence under this Act the onus of proving the existence of any licence or exemption shall be on the person seeking to avail of it.

14.— (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a person being a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or a person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person as well as the body corporate is guilty of an offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.

(2) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) shall apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his or her functions of management as if he or she were a director of the body corporate.

15.— The expenses incurred by the Minister in administering this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by F14[the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform], be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

16.— The Minister may, for the purposes of this Act, as he or she sees fit and in accordance with such conditions as he or she may determine, make grants out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas to—

(a) a water services authority,

(b) any person providing or intending to provide water services,

(c) an organisation which represents or promotes the formation of co-operative groups or voluntary associations,

(d) an organisation which conducts research or provides information, advice or training related to F15[water services,]

F16[(dd) in accordance with section 31 of the Water Services Act 2017, the Water F17[Forum, or]]

F18[(de) F19[…]]

(e) any other person.

17.—F20[…]

18.— (1) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of this Act, including regulations for prescribing any matter or thing which is referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed or for the purpose of enabling any provision of this Act to have full effect.

(2) Regulations made under this Act may make different provisions, including provision for different requirements or exemptions, in relation to different areas, different circumstances, different classes of persons or water services or other activities.

(3) Without prejudice to any other provision of this Act, a regulation or order under this Act may provide for such incidental, consequential, supplementary or transitional provisions (including provisions for the purpose of securing the continuity of any provision of this Act with any provision of any other Act or instrument repealed, revoked, amended or otherwise affected by this Act or by any regulation or order made under it) as may appear to the Minister to be appropriate for the purposes of this Act or any regulations or order made under it.

(4) Every regulation made by the Minister under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation has been laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

19.— (1) Any notice, or other document or thing, required to be served or given by, or under, this Act shall be addressed to the person concerned and served or given in any of the following ways:

(a) by addressing it to the person by name and delivering it to him or her;

(b) by leaving it at the address at which the person ordinarily resides or carries on business;

(c) by sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter addressed to him or her at the address at which he or she ordinarily resides or carries on business;

(d) if an address for the service of notices has been furnished by the person, by leaving it at, or sending it by prepaid registered post addressed to him or her to, that address;

(e) where the address at which the person ordinarily resides or carries on business cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry and the notice is required to be served on, or given to, him or her in respect of any premises, by delivering it to a person over 16 years of age resident in or employed on the premises, or by affixing it in a conspicuous position on or near the premises; or

(f) where there is a facility for receiving a copy of the notice by electronic mail or a facsimile of the notice by electronic means at the address at which the person ordinarily resides or carries on business, by transmitting a copy of the notice by electronic mail or a facsimile of the notice by such means to that address, provided that the notice is also served or given in any of the other ways referred to in this subsection other than this paragraph.

(2) Where the name of the person concerned cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry a notice under this Act may be addressed to “the occupier”, “the owner” or “the person in charge” as the case may be.

(3) For the purpose of this section a company registered under the Companies Acts shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident at its registered office, and every other body corporate and every unincorporated body shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident at its principal office or place of business.

(4) A person who, at any time during the period of 3 months after a notice is affixed under subsection (1)(e) removes, damages or defaces the notice without lawful authority, commits an offence.

(5) Without prejudice to section 20 and for the purpose of a notice under section 43(13), 92(2) or 97(1)—

(a) where the name of the person concerned cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, the notice may be addressed (however expressed) to—

(i) the person who owns or has control over the land or pipe referred to in the notice, or

(ii) the person who is responsible for the maintenance, repair or renewal of the land or pipe referred to in the notice,

(b) where the address of any person to whom a notice under section 43(13), 92(2) or 97(1) is directed cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, then service of the notice may be effected by—

(i) publication of the notice in Iris Oifigiúil,

(ii) affixing a copy of the notice in a conspicuous position at or near the location at which the work referred to in the notice is to be carried out, and

(iii) publication of the notice in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the land or pipe referred to in the notice is located.

20.— Whenever in any proceedings under this Act it is necessary to mention the occupier or owner of any premises it shall be sufficient to designate him or her as “occupier” or “owner” of the premises without further description.

21.— A water services authority, and any other person who may be prescribed functions under the Act, shall have all such powers of examination, investigation and survey as may be necessary for the performance of their functions in relation to this Act.

22.— (1) The Minister, F21[Irish Water,] or a water services authority, or such other person as may be prescribed, may appoint a person to be an authorised person for the purposes of this Act.

(2) An authorised person may, for any purpose connected with this Act—

(a) at all reasonable times, or at any time if he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that there is or may be a risk to human health or the environment arising from the carrying on of a water services activity at a premises, enter any premises and bring onto those premises such other persons (including a member of the Garda Síochána) or equipment as he or she may consider necessary, or

(b) at any time if he or she has reasonable grounds for suspecting there may be a risk to human health or the environment, or that an offence under this Act is being or is about to be committed, halt and board any vehicle and require the driver of the vehicle to take it to a place designated by the authorised person, and such a vehicle may be detained at that place by the authorised person for such period as he or she may consider necessary, or

(c) enter and inspect any premises for the purposes of obtaining any information which the Minister, F21[Irish Water,] the water services authority or other prescribed person, as the case may be, may require, or of performing a function under this Act.

(3) An authorised person shall not, other than with the consent of the occupier, enter into a private dwelling under this section unless he or she has obtained a warrant from the District Court under subsection (8) authorising such entry.

(4) Every authorised person shall be furnished with a certificate of his or her appointment and, when exercising any power conferred on him or her by or under this Act, the authorised person shall, if requested by any person affected, produce the certificate to that person.

(5) Whenever an authorised person enters any premises or boards any vehicle, under this section, he or she may—

(a) take photographs and carry out inspections,

(b) carry out tests and take samples,

(c) monitor any effluent, including trade effluent or other matter which is contained in or discharged from a premises,

(d) carry out surveys, take levels, make excavations and carry out examinations of depth and nature of subsoil,

(e) require that the premises or vehicle or any part of the premises or anything in the premises or vehicle shall be left undisturbed for such period of time as may be specified by the authorised person, which period—

(i) shall be no greater than reasonably necessary, and

(ii) may be extended from time to time by an authorised person where necessary for the purposes of subparagraph (i),

(f) require information from an occupier of the premises or any occupant of the vehicle or any person employed on the premises or any other person on the premises,

(g) require the production of, or inspect, records or documents, or take copies of or extracts from, or take away if considered necessary for the purposes of inspection or examination, any records or documents,

(h) examine works,

(i) carry out repairs or remedial works,

(j) replace or renew equipment,

(k) install or ascertain the course or condition of any sewer, drain, water main, distribution system, service connection or related accessories, or carry out maintenance, repairs or renewal on them, or

(l) carry out examinations to ascertain whether water supplied to the premises is being wasted, or consumed in excessive amounts relative to the purpose provided or used for purposes other than for which supplied,

which the authorised person, having regard to all the circumstances, considers necessary for the purposes of exercising any function under this Act.

(6) (a) An authorised person who, having carried out enquiries in accordance with the powers provided under this section, considers that a water supply or waste water or any associated infrastructure at a premises constitutes a risk, or permits a risk to human health or the environment, may direct the owner or occupier of the premises to take such measures as are considered by that authorised person to be necessary to remove that risk.

(b) If the owner or occupier referred to in paragraph (a) fails to comply with a direction of an authorised person under this subsection, the authorised person may do all things as are necessary to ensure that the measures required under the direction are carried out and the costs incurred by him or her in doing any such thing shall be recoverable from the owner or occupier by him or her, or the person by whom he or she was appointed.

(7) Any person who—

(a) refuses to allow an authorised person to enter any premises or board any vehicle or to bring any person or equipment with him or her in the exercise of his or her powers,

(b) obstructs or impedes an authorised person in the exercise of any of his or her powers,

(c) gives either to an authorised person, F21[Irish Water,]a relevant water services authority or the Board, information which is to his or her knowledge false or misleading in a material respect, or

(d) fails or refuses to comply with any direction or requirement of an authorised person,

commits an offence.

(8) (a) Where an authorised person in the exercise of his or her powers under this section is prevented from entering any premises, or if he or she has reason to believe that evidence related to a suspected offence under this Act may be present in any premises and that the evidence may be removed therefrom or destroyed, or if the authorised person has reason to believe that there is a significant immediate risk to human health or the environment, the authorised person or the person by whom he or she was appointed may apply to the District Court for a warrant under this subsection authorising the entry by the authorised person onto or into the premises.

(b) If, on application being made to the District Court under this subsection, the District Court is satisfied, on the sworn information of the authorised person that he or she has been prevented from entering a premises, the Court may issue a warrant authorising that person, accompanied, if the Court deems it appropriate by another authorised person or a member of the Garda Síochána F22[or an inspector appointed by the Agency in accordance with section 70E], as may be specified in the warrant, at any time or times within one month from the date of the issue of the warrant, on production if so requested of the warrant, to enter, if need be by force, the premises concerned and exercise the powers referred to in subsection (5) or (6).

(9) An authorised person may, in the exercise of any power conferred on him or her by this Act involving the bringing of any vehicle to any place, or where he or she anticipates any obstruction in the exercise of any other power conferred on him or her by or under this Act, request a member of the Garda Síochána to assist him or her in the exercise of such a power and any member of the Garda Síochána to whom he or she makes such a request shall comply with that request.

(10) An authorised person may enter on land for the purpose of assessing the suitability of the land for any activity, or for use in connection with any activity, authorised under this Act and that entry shall be subject to the relevant provisions of section 252 of the Act of 2000 as if it were an entry made under that section.

(11) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of this section to provide for all or any of the following matters:

(a) the taking of samples and the carrying out of tests, examinations and analyses;

(b) the specification of the classes of persons to be responsible for taking samples and for the carrying out of tests, examinations and analyses;

(c) the specification of the certificate or other evidence to be given of the result of any such test, examination or analysis and the class or classes of person by whom such certificate or evidence is to be given; or

(d) any consequential or ancillary matters.

(12) Any certificate or other evidence given, or to be given, in respect of any test, examination or analysis of any sample shall, in relation to that sample, be evidence, without further proof, of the result of the test, examination or analysis unless the contrary is shown.

23.— (1) Where a provision of this Act, or of any regulation made under this Act, or of any notice served under this Act, enables representations to be made, or requires documents, particulars or other information to be furnished, before the expiration of a specified period and the last day of that period is a Saturday, a Sunday, a public holiday (within the meaning of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997) or any other day on which the principal office of the water services authority concerned, or other prescribed person (as the case may be), is closed, the representations, documents, particulars or other information (as the case may be), shall be regarded as having been received before the expiration of that period if received by the water services authority or other prescribed person on the next following day on which the principal office of the water services authority, or other prescribed person, is open.

(2) In this section “representations” includes objections, submissions and observations.

24.— (1) A water services authority or any other person prescribed shall establish and maintain records for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The records referred to in subsection (1) may be established and maintained in a form that is not legible if they are capable of being converted into a legible form.

(3) In any proceedings taken under this Act a certificate signed by an authorised person and containing information stated to be taken from records maintained under this section by a water services authority or any other person prescribed shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.

(4) In any proceedings a document purporting to be a certificate under subsection (3) shall be deemed to be such a certificate and to have been signed by an authorised person unless the contrary is shown.

(5) In any proceedings a document purporting to be a copy of a notice, order, licence or other record and to be certified by an authorised person to be a true copy of the notice, order, licence or other record shall be admissible as evidence of that notice, order, licence or record.

(6) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of this section, including regulations to impose requirements to keep specified records made under this section and to provide for the format of those records.

25.— (1) A water services authority and any other person prescribed shall, as soon as may be after the commencement of this section, establish and maintain a register for the purposes of this Act, and shall enter in the register the entries and additions as may, from time to time, be prescribed.

(2) A register under this section shall be kept at the principal office of the water services authority concerned, or any other person prescribed, and shall be made available for inspection by any person during office hours.

(3) Where a request is made to a water services authority, or any other person prescribed, for a copy of an entry in the register maintained by it or him or her under this section, the water services authority, or other person prescribed, shall issue such a copy to the applicant on, if so required, the payment by the applicant of a fee of such an amount (not exceeding the reasonable cost of making the copy) as may be determined.

(4) Every document purporting to be a copy of an entry in a register maintained under this section by a water services authority, or other person prescribed, and purporting to be certified by an officer of the water services authority, or other person prescribed, to be a true copy of the entry shall, without proof of the signature of the person purporting so to certify or that he or she was that officer, be received in evidence in any legal proceedings and shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to be a true copy of the entry and to be evidence of the terms of the entry.

(5) Evidence of an entry in a register under this section may be given by production of a copy of it certified under this section and it shall not be necessary to produce the register itself.

(6) A water services authority, or other person prescribed shall notify the Minister, or other person prescribed, in such manner and at such times as may be prescribed, of such particulars entered in a register maintained under this section as may be prescribed.

(7) (a) A water services authority or other person prescribed may keep a register under this section otherwise than in legible form so that the register is capable of being used to make a legible copy or reproduction of any entry in the register.

(b) References in this section to a copy of an entry in a register under this section shall be construed as including references to such a legible copy or reproduction.

(8) The Minister may make regulations to impose a requirement to record specified information for the purposes of this section and may prescribe the format of those records.

26.— (1) For the purpose of enabling a water services authority or other person prescribed to perform their functions, the Minister may provide services (including services of staff) to the water services authority, or other person prescribed, on such terms and conditions (including payment for such services) as may be agreed and the water services authority or other person prescribed may avail of such services.

(2) A water services authority may provide services (including services of staff) to the Minister, another water services authority, or any other person, on such terms and conditions (including payment for such services) as may be agreed, and the Minister, the other water services authority or other person may avail of such services.

(3) A public authority may provide to the Minister, a water services authority, or any person prescribed, any services (including services of staff) required by the Minister or the water services authority, or other person prescribed, for the performance of any of his or her or its functions under this Act and on such terms and conditions (including payment for such services) as may be agreed and the Minister, water services authority or other person prescribed may avail of such services.

27.— F23[…]

28.— (1) Where, on application by a water services authority to the High Court, the Court is satisfied that a person has failed to comply with a requirement of or under this Act, and the failure has caused, or is likely to cause, a risk to human health or the environment, it may by order—

(a) direct the person to comply with the requirement, and

(b) make such other provision, including provision in relation to the payment of costs, as the Court considers appropriate.

(2) An application for an order under this section shall be by motion, and the High Court when considering the matter may make such interim or interlocutory order as it considers appropriate.

(3) An application for an order under this section may be made whether or not there has been a prosecution for an offence under this Act in relation to the activity concerned and shall not prejudice the initiation of a prosecution for an offence under this Act in relation to the activity concerned.

29.— (1) No action or other proceeding shall lie or be maintained against the Minister, a water services authority or other prescribed person for the recovery of damages in respect of any injury to persons, damage to property or other loss alleged to have been caused by—

(a) a failure to exercise any power conferred on the Minister, a water services authority or other prescribed person, by or under this Act or any regulations made under it, or

(b) a restriction of the provision of water services in a manner which is reasonable for the performance of any functions under the Act.

(2) Where the Minister, a water services authority or other person prescribed is satisfied that—

(a) an authorised person appointed by the Minister, that water services authority or that other person,

(b) an officer or employee of the Minister, of that water services authority or that other person, or

(c) a member of a committee or consultative group established by the Minister, that water services authority or that other person,

has carried out his or her duties in relation to the performance by the Minister, that water services authority or that other person of his or her or its functions under this Act in good faith—

(i) the Minister,

(ii) the water services authority, or

(iii) that other person,

as the case may be, shall indemnify the authorised person, officer or employee, or member of a committee or consultative group against all actions or claims howsoever arising in respect of the carrying out by him or her of his or her said duties.

30.— F24[…]

31.— (1) F25[…]

(2) F26[…] a water services authority may provide water services or supervise the provision of water services by other persons, in accordance with any prescribed standards, for domestic and non-domestic requirements F26[…], taking full account of the following aspects of public policy, namely:

(a) proper planning and sustainable development F26[…];

(b) protection of human health and the environment;

(c) relevant regulations and other statutory provisions made by the Minister or the Parliament and Council of the European Union;

(d) relevant regulations made by the Minister for Health and Children;

(e) relevant policy directions issued by the Minister under this Act or any other enactment;

(f) guidance provided or direction made by the Agency;

(g) sustainable management of water resources;

(h) relevant development plans, regional or spatial planning guidelines, housing strategies or special amenity area orders, as appropriate, made under the Act of 2000;

(i) a water quality management plan or a programme of measures made under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 to 2007 for the area to be covered by the water services strategic plan;

(j) a waste management plan under the Act of 1996;

(k) a river basin management plan or a programme of measures under the EU Water Framework Directive; or

(l) such other criteria, standards or procedures as may be prescribed in relation to matters to which paragraphs (a) to (k) apply or as may be directed by the Minister.

(3) F25[…]

(4) A water services authority may not provide water services or supervise the provision of water services if doing so is inconsistent with any of the public policy issues specified in subsection (2)(a) to (l).

(5) Without prejudice to the State Authorities (Public Private Partnership Arrangements) Act 2002, for the purposes of fulfilling all or any of its functions under subsection (2), a water services authority may make arrangements with another person, including entering into an agreement or arrangement with another person in relation to the provision of water services by another person or jointly with it F26[…].

(6) Any plant, works, machinery or pipe provided under any arrangement under subsection (5) will be subject to the same obligations and duty of care by owners or occupiers of premises as if it was provided directly by a water services authority.

(7) F25[…]

(8) Notwithstanding subsection (7), a water services authority may require that the provision of water services to any person (other than in the case of water services provided to a household for domestic purposes) shall be subject to that person entering into an agreement with the water services authority under section 32(1)(k) in relation to reserving or assigning capacity for the provision of water services to that person.

(9) F25[…]

(10) A water services authority may provide assistance to any water services provider to facilitate the provision of water services.

(11) F25[…]

(12) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this or any other enactment, a water services authority shall not enter into any agreement or arrangement with another person, F26[…], for the provision of water services jointly with or on behalf of the authority which—

(i) involves or may involve the transfer of the water services authority’s assets or infrastructure, or any part of such assets or infrastructure, to that person, or

(ii) prohibits the transfer to the water services authority of assets or infrastructure, or any part of such assets or infrastructure, provided by the person as part of such agreement.

(b)F26[…]

(13) F25[…]

(14) F25[…].

(15) F25[…]

(16) F25[…]

(17)F25[…]

(18) F25[…]

(19) A right to water services, which is provided for under, or may be construed from, this section, or any other section under this Act or any other enactment, whether enacted before or after this Act, shall not apply in relation to a premises which is an unauthorised structure, or the use of which constitutes an unauthorised use, under the Act of 2000.

(20) F25[…]

32.— (1) A water services authority may F27[…] take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with its obligations under section 31 and for the purposes of carrying out its functions under section 31 F27[…] including—

(a) the abstraction, impoundment, treatment, purchase or supply of water for drinking or any other purpose, in accordance with relevant provisions of this Act or any other enactment, or regulations made under this or any other enactment,

(b) the provision, operation or maintenance of sewers and waste water collection and treatment facilities, in accordance with relevant provisions of this Act or any other enactment, or regulations made under this or any other enactment,

(c) the construction or maintenance, or arrangement for the construction and maintenance of, waterworks or waste water works,

(d) the undertaking of such work as is necessary to provide such waterworks or waste water works as may be required,

(e) purchasing or obtaining premises or wayleaves,

(f) the installation and maintenance of meters, or otherwise measuring the volume or rate of flow of water supplies or discharges to waste water works,

(g) monitoring the quality of water supplies at any point or points,

(h) monitoring the quality of waste water at any point or points,

(i) treatment, reuse or disposal of by-products arising from the treatment of water or waste water,

(j) without prejudice to the State Authorities (Public Private Partnership Arrangements) Act 2002, entering into an agreement with any person in relation to or for the provision of, whether by that person or jointly with that person, water services F27[…],

(k) without prejudice to the State Authorities (Public Private Partnership Arrangements) Act 2002, entering into an agreement or arrangement with any person for the provision of water services to that person, including in relation to assigning capacity in a waterworks or reserving capacity in a waste water works for the provision of water services to that person,

(l) authorising, controlling, monitoring or supervising the provision of water services by any other person F27[…],

(m) carrying out all such surveys, research, analysis, monitoring or undertaking any other action which may be necessary for the purposes of its functions under this section,

(n) the provision of guidance, advice or information to other persons in relation to water services,

(o) entering into such contracts or other arrangements as it considers necessary or expedient for the use, purchase, or lease of any buildings, premises, materials, services, machinery or other apparatus, or

(p) taking waterworks or waste water works provided by other persons in charge.

(2) F27[…]

(3) F27[…]

(4) F27[…]

(5) F27[…]

(6) Measures taken in relation to failure to meet prescribed drinking water quality standards shall—

(a) be prioritised having regard, amongst other matters, to the extent to which the relevant parametric values have been exceeded and to the potential danger to human health arising, and

(b) in any event, be taken as soon as possible.

(7) F27[…]

(8) F27[…]

(9) F27[…]

(10) F27[…]

(11) F27[…]

(12) F27[…]

33.— (1) In respect of any connection by a user to a waterworks or waste water works operated by or on behalf of or jointly with a water services authority, the water services authority may, subject to any regulations made under this section, specify any technical requirements necessary to minimise the risk of leakage or to protect the integrity of the waterworks or waste water works.

(2) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of subsection (1) specifying technical standards.

(3) A person who fails to comply with a technical requirement specified under this section commits an offence.

34.— The Minister may issue guidelines or codes of practice in relation to the performance of the functions of water services authorities under this Act, or in relation to the provision of water services by any person or in relation to the general duties of other persons to which this Act or regulations under it apply.

35.— (1) Subject to subsection (2), failure on the part of any person to observe any provision of a guideline or a code of practice issued under section 34 shall not of itself render that person liable to any civil or criminal proceedings.

(2) Where in any criminal proceedings a party is alleged to have committed an offence under this Act, being a provision for which there was a guideline or a code of practice at the time of the alleged contravention, subsection (3) shall have effect with respect to that guideline or code of practice in relation to those proceedings.

(3) Any provision of a guideline or code of practice which appears to the court to give practical guidance as to the observance of the requirement or prohibition alleged to have been contravened shall be admissible in evidence; and if it is proved that any act or omission of the defendant alleged to constitute the contravention is a failure to observe such provision of the guideline or code of practice, or if it is proved that any act or omission of the defendant is in compliance with such provision of the guideline or code of practice, then such failure or compliance shall be admissible in evidence.

36.— F28[…]

37.—F29[…]

38.— F30[…]

39.— All functions assigned to sanitary authorities under any other enactment shall, in so far as they relate to the carrying out by a water services authority of functions in relation to the provision of water services, be deemed to be functions of a water services authority, and all references to a sanitary authority in those acts and related enactments are to be construed accordingly.

40.— F31[…]

41.— (1) In this section—

“local road”, “national road” , “public road” , “regional road” and “road” have the same meaning as in section 2 of the Roads Act 1993;

“pipes” includes sewers, drains, water mains, distribution systems, service connections or their accessories;

F32[ ‘road authority’ means—

(a) in the case of a toll road within the meaning of Part V of the Roads Act 1993, the National Roads Authority, and

(b) in all other cases, a local authority within the meaning of the Act of 2001, other than a local authority referred to in Part 2 of Schedule 6 to that Act.]

(2) A water services authority, or other person acting jointly with it or on its behalf, may, for the purpose of providing or assisting in the provision of water services, carry pipes through, across, over, under or along any public road, or place intended for a public road, or under or over any cellar or vault which may be under the pavement or carriageway of any public road, or from time to time repair, alter, remove or replace the same, subject to the consent of the relevant road authority where the water services authority is not the road authority for that road or place intended for a road.

(3) Any person authorised by a water services authority to provide water services or any person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of that person, may, in respect of the provision of those services, carry pipes through, across, over, under or along a public road, or place intended for a public road, or under or over any cellar or vault which may be under the pavement or carriageway of any public road, or from time to time repair, alter, remove or replace the same, subject to the consent of the road authority for that road.

(4) Subject to any regulations that the Minister may make under subsection (6), a road authority may attach conditions to the granting of any consent under subsection (2) or (3), which shall be binding on the said water services authority or authorised provider of water services or person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of the water services authority or authorised provider of water services as the case may be.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4), conditions attaching to any consent may include—

(a) the periods during which and times at which works shall be or shall not be carried out,

(b) the period within which works shall be completed,

(c) the manner in which works shall be completed,

(d) requirements and standards in relation to the temporary or permanent reinstatement of a public road following the carrying out of works,

(e) requirements in relation to giving security, including refundable deposits, as the case may be, for the satisfactory reinstatement of a public road following the carrying out of works,

(f) requirements in relation to the co-ordination of work with other work being undertaken or proposed by other persons,

(g) requirements in relation to the control of traffic in the vicinity of works,

(h) requirements in relation to the supervision and inspection of works by the road authority,

(i) requirements in relation to the carrying out of additional works,

(j) requirements in relation to the provision of information to the public as to the extent or nature of the works or the period within which they shall be completed, and

(k) any other measures considered necessary by the road authority for the protection of human health or the environment, and to facilitate sustainable development.

(6) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Transport, make regulations for the purposes of this section.

(7) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (6), regulations under this section may include provision for—

(a) procedures for the administration of the consent process, including in relation to refusal or withdrawal of a consent,

(b) charges for administration of the consent process,

(c) matters to be taken into consideration by a road authority for the purposes of the consent process,

(d) conditions attaching to a consent,

(e) waiving or substitution of consent procedures in an emergency for the purposes of protecting human health and the environment,

(f) requirements and standards in relation to the reinstatement of roads,

(g) notification and public consultation requirements, or

(h) procedures when consent is refused or withdrawn, or an applicant for consent wishes to make representations in relation to conditions attaching to a consent.

(8) Regulations under this section may make different provisions for applications for consent for different classes of roads.

(9) A requirement to hold a licence under section 254 of the Act of 2000 in respect of works on, under, over or along a public road shall not apply to a person who has obtained the consent of a road authority under this section, in respect of the works to which the consent relates.

(10) A road authority shall have a right of action for relief by way of injunction or declaration from the High Court against any person to restrain any non-compliance or direct any compliance with a requirement of this section, and the Court may grant such order as it sees fit.

(11) For the purposes of this Act, where a person (other than a road authority) claims an interest in or under any road—

(a) it shall be for the person concerned to prove such interest, and

(b) the value of such interest shall be taken to be nil unless it is shown to be otherwise by the person.

(12) Section 182 of the Act of 2000 shall apply to a water services authority for the purposes of this Act, and any references to a local authority in the said section or in Part XIV or related Parts of the Act of 2000 shall be deemed to be a reference to a water services authority for the purposes of this Act.

(13) F33[…]

(14) F33[…]

42.— (1) Where—

(a) a water services authority has provided, arranged for the provision of or taken in charge a waste water works, and

(b) in the opinion of the authority, any premises F34[…]—

(i) is not drained in a satisfactory manner, or

(ii) constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment, and

(iii) is capable of being served by means of a service connection of a reasonable length to the waste water works,

the authority may serve on the owner of the premises a notice requiring the execution within a specified period of such works as are necessary for the purpose of securing the service of the premises by the waste water works.

(2) Where—

(a) a water services authority has provided, arranged for the provision of or taken in charge a waterworks, and

(b) in the opinion of the authority, any premises F34[…] is—

(i) not provided with a satisfactory supply of water, and

(ii) capable of being served by means of a service connection of a reasonable length to the waterworks,

the authority may serve on the owner of the premises a notice requiring the execution within a specified period of such works as are necessary for the purpose of securing the service of the premises by the waterworks.

(3) A notice under this section shall specify separately any portion of the works required thereby which is to be executed under subsection (11) of this section by the water services authority, or under its supervision.

(4) (a) Subsection (1) and (2) shall also apply where a water services authority has authorised or entered into an agreement with another person, or where an authorised provider of water services has entered into such an agreement for the provision of the waterworks or waste water works in question, provided that the agreement of that person to the additional connection is, unless otherwise provided for in any aforementioned agreement, also obtained by the water services authority.

(b) Where paragraph (a) applies, the water services authority may also require the owner of the premises concerned to take a supply of water through a meter or other instrument provided for measuring the supply of water to that premises or to discharge water through a waste water discharge meter in accordance with Part 5.

(5) The person on whom a notice under this section has been served may, within one month from the date of the service of the notice on him or her, appeal against the terms of notice to the District Court and a decision from the District Court under this subsection shall be final, save that, by leave of the Court, an appeal from the decision shall lie to the High Court on a specified question of law.

(6) Notice of appeal under this section shall be given to the water services authority, and that authority shall be entitled to appear and be heard on the hearing of the appeal.

(7) On the hearing of an appeal under this section the District Court may—

(a) confirm the notice unconditionally,

(b) confirm the notice subject to such modifications, alterations or additions as the Court thinks reasonable, or

(c) annul the notice.

(8) A notice under this section shall take effect—

(a) in case no appeal is taken, or an appeal is taken and is withdrawn within one month from the service of the notice, on the expiration of one month from the service of the notice,

(b) in case an appeal is taken and is not so withdrawn, when the appeal is withdrawn or determined.

(9) (a) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, where a notice under this section has been served on the person who was, when the notice was served on him or her, the owner of the premises to which the notice relates and within the period specified in the notice, or within such extended period as the water services authority may allow, the works required by the notice have not been begun or, if begun, have not been completed, that person commits an offence.

(b) If a person against whom proceedings are brought under this subsection has at some time before the end of the said period specified in the notice for compliance therewith (or of such extended period as the water services authority may allow for such compliance) ceased to be the owner of the premises, he or she shall, upon complaint duly made by him or her and on giving to the prosecution not less than 3 clear days’ notice of his or her intention, be entitled to have the person who then became the owner of the premises brought before the Court in the proceedings.

(c) If, after it has been proved that the works required by the notice have not been begun or completed as aforesaid, the original defendant proves that the failure was attributable in whole or in part to the default of the said other person, that other person may be convicted of the offence and, if the original defendant further proves that he or she took all reasonable steps to secure compliance with the notice, he or she shall be acquitted of the offence.

(d) In paragraph (a) and (c) of this subsection, the reference to the works required by the notice shall, in a case in which the relevant notice specifies separately any portion of the works required thereby which is to be executed under subsection (11) by the water services authority, be construed as referring to so much of the works required by that notice as is not so specified.

(e) For the purposes of this subsection, a person who, apart from this paragraph, would be the owner of a premises by reason of receiving rent shall, if he or she receives the rent as agent for another person, be regarded as not being such owner.

(10) If, on a complaint made by the owner of any premises, it appears to the District Court that a person having an interest in the premises, other than the owner of the premises, prevents the owner from executing works required to be executed by a notice under this section, the Court may order the person to permit the execution of those works.

(11) (a) Where a notice under this section requires the execution of works which include the installation of a pipe passing through land of which the owner is not the owner of the premises to which the notice relates, the water services authority which served the notice shall itself install, or arrange for the installation of, so much of the pipe as lies within that land and may recover the costs involved from the person to whom the notice is addressed.

(b) For the purpose of installing a pipe under this subsection or subsection (12), a water services authority shall have the powers and duties specified in section 41 and, where appropriate, Part 7 or 8, and, on exercising any such power, shall be liable to pay such (if any) compensation as if the power had been exercised under those provisions.

(12) Without prejudice to section 92, where works to facilitate drainage of a premises in accordance with a notice under section 92(2), or to connect a premises to a waterworks or waste water works require the installation of a pipe passing through another premises which is not owned by or under the control of the owner of the premises to be drained or connected, a water services authority may, on request of the owner of the premises to be drained or connected, itself install or connect, or arrange for the installation or connection of, so much of the pipe or related accessories as lie within that premises, and may recover the costs involved from the owner of the premises to be drained or connected.

(13) Responsibility for the subsequent maintenance and renewal of any pipe installed under the powers provided in subsection (11) or (12) shall lie in the first instance with the person on whose behalf the work is carried out, and his or her successors in title, but a water services authority may, at its absolute discretion, take any such pipe in charge in accordance with section 43(12).

43.— (1) In this section—

“connection” means a drain, a distribution system or a service connection and includes part of such drain, distribution system or service connection;

“public road” and “road authority” have the same meanings respectively as in section 41.

(2) A water services authority may, at its absolute discretion, subject to such conditions as it may decide, provide, repair or replace, or contribute to the cost of providing, repairing or replacing a connection.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), a person who owns or controls a connection, or in whom it is vested, or who has taken it in charge, shall be responsible for its maintenance and renewal, and shall ensure that it is kept in good order and repair, so as to—

(a) prevent a risk to human health or the environment,

(b) facilitate the reasonable conservation of water and the proper and effective management of water services, and

(c) prevent the infiltration or exfiltration of water or waste water.

(4) Where a person cannot be identified for the purposes of subsection (3), responsibility under that subsection shall lie with the owner or owners of any premises using the connection, in direct proportion to the level of use of the connection to supply water to or convey waste water from the premises or respective premises, as the case may be.

(5) A water services authority may enter any relevant land and carry out all necessary investigations or works for the purposes of providing, ascertaining the condition of or taking in charge, a connection, or for the purposes of subsection (6).

(6) If, in the opinion of a water services authority, a connection is so defective, foul or neglected as to present a risk to human health, the environment, the reasonable conservation of water or the proper and effective management of water services, or, to permit the infiltration or exfiltration of water or waste water, the water services authority may, at its absolute discretion—

(a) direct by notice the person or persons responsible for its maintenance or renewal to carry out such works as it considers necessary, or

(b) carry out in the first instance, or in the event of failure to comply with a notice under paragraph (a), such works as it considers necessary, and recover the cost of such works from the person or persons responsible for maintenance or renewal of the connection.

(7) If a connection is found on investigation not to be so defective, foul or neglected as to present a risk to human health, the environment, the reasonable conservation of water or the proper and effective management of water services, or, to permit the infiltration or exfiltration of water or waste water, the water services authority which carried out the investigation shall cause such connection to be restored and any opening or excavation made in the course of the investigation to be closed or filled up and any damage done to be made good.

(8) Where—

(a) a person wishes to install a connection, or

(b) a person responsible for the maintenance or renewal of a connection wishes, or has been directed under subsection (6)(a), either by himself or herself or by arrangement with a third party to undertake maintenance or renewal works on a connection,

which runs, or is intended to run through, across, under, over or along any public road or place intended for a public road, then he or she may do so, subject to the consent of the road authority in whose functional area the road is situated.

(9) A road authority may attach conditions to the granting of any consent under subsection (8) as if the person concerned was a person to whom section 41(3) applies, which shall be binding on that person or his or her agents as the case may be.

(10) For the purposes of providing any pipe under this section a water services authority shall have the powers mentioned in section 41.

(11) The Minister may make regulations in relation to notices under subsection (6)(a), and without prejudice to the generality of such regulations, they may include provisions in relation to—

(a) the action to be carried out under a notice,

(b) the time limit by which action directed to be carried out under a notice must be completed,

(c) the quality of materials and workmanship to be employed in any remedial action under a notice,

(d) powers of entry and investigation by authorised persons, and

(e) such incidental provisions as are necessary to ensure the effective supervision by a water services authority of compliance with, or enforcement of, a notice.

(12) A water services authority may, at its discretion and subject to such conditions as it may decide, take in charge a connection, which shall thereafter come under the sole control and responsibility of the water services authority.

(13) (a) Without prejudice to section 180 of the Act of 2000, where a water services authority proposes to take in charge a connection under subsection (12), then it shall by notice inform any person who owns or controls the connection, of its intention to take it in charge, and where the identity of that person cannot be ascertained by reasonable enquiry, a notice for the purposes of this subsection may issue in accordance with section 19(5).

(b) Where, for the purposes of paragraph (a), the identity of the person or persons who owns or controls a connection cannot be ascertained after reasonable enquiry, then the water services authority shall also by notice inform any person who is responsible, in accordance with subsection (4), for the maintenance or renewal of that connection, and notwithstanding section 19 such notice may be issued by publication in a newspaper circulating in the area where the connection is located.

(14) A notice under subsection (13) may be appealed in accordance with section 92(8) by the person to whom it is addressed as if it was a notice issued under section 92(2), and shall be enforceable as if it was issued under that section.

(15) A person to whom a notice under subsection (13) is addressed shall, unless he or she waives that right, be entitled to reimbursement, from the water services authority which issued the notice, for the costs of the materials and labour expended by him or her in providing the connection, together with any additional compensation arising from a reduction in the value of his or her interest in the connection concerned.

(16) Where a dispute arises between a person to whom a notice under subsection (13) is addressed and the water services authority which issued it, then the matter may be referred by either of them to arbitration as if it was a referral for arbitration under section 92(15) but only to the extent that it relates to reimbursement or compensation under subsection (15) of this section.

(17) A person who—

(a) damages a connection, or

(b) fails to comply with a notice under subsection (6)(a),

commits an offence.

44.— (1) Where any premises F35[…] is connected to a water supply or sewer which is either the property of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services or a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services, by means of a service connection passing through land, the owner of which is not the owner of the premises, the water services authority F35[…] may—

(a) on the request of the owner of the premises, carry out on such land, any necessary repair or renewal of such service connection,

(b) after 7 days’ notice in writing to the owner of such land or in case of emergency without notice enter on such land and do all things reasonably necessary for the purpose of the repair or renewal.

(2) Any expenses incurred by a water services authority under this section at the request of the owner of a premises may be recovered from that person by the authority.

45.— A person who causes any damage to a water main, distribution system, sewer, drain, service connection or their accessories used for the purpose of providing water services belonging to or in the charge of a water services authority, an authorised provider of water services or a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services, commits an offence.

46.— No provision in this Act shall be construed as relieving a water services authority of any obligation under another enactment, including enactments brought into operation after the commencement of this section, to consult with or obtain the agreement of another public authority with an interest in any premises affected before undertaking works in relation to any of its functions under this Act.

47.— (1) Each water services authority, the Minister or other person prescribed shall—

(a) carry out, or cause to be carried out, such monitoring or inspection of water services operations as it, he or she considers to be necessary for the performance of their functions under this Act, and

(b) keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained, such records of any monitoring or inspections carried out under paragraph (a) as it, he or she considers reasonable and necessary.

(2) Where it appears necessary to do so for any purpose of this Act, a water services authority, the Minister or other person prescribed may require any person who is in control of a water service—

(a) to carry out or arrange to have carried out such monitoring, at such frequency (including continuous monitoring by electronic means or otherwise) in relation to the activity concerned as it, he or she may specify,

(b) to keep and to supply to the water services authority, the Minister or other person prescribed such records of said monitoring or inspection as it, he or she may specify, or

(c) to provide meters, gauges, manholes or inspection chambers or any other apparatus for the purposes of this section.

(3) Each water services authority or other person prescribed shall, if so requested by the Minister, supply to the Minister or to any person specified by the Minister, at such intervals and in such manner as the Minister may require, records of any monitoring or inspection carried out under this section that are in its, his or her possession or control.

(4) Each water services authority, the Minister or other prescribed person, shall carry out or take or cause to be carried out or taken such monitoring or other measures as it, he or she considers necessary to verify that any monitoring, or records of such monitoring, required under subsection (2) are being properly carried out or retained, as the case may be.

(5) Without prejudice to any other provision of this Act, the Minister may make regulations requiring the making of payments by any person for the purpose of defraying costs which may be incurred by a water services authority, the Minister or other prescribed person in carrying out any monitoring or inspection or taking other measures under this section in relation to the activities of that person.

(6) A payment which is required under regulations under this section, shall be payable on demand by the person concerned.

48.— The Minister may, having consulted with any Minister of the Government that he or she considers ought to be consulted having regard to their functions, make regulations requiring water services authorities or other persons prescribed, to consult with such other persons and in such manner in relation to the exercise of such powers and duties under this Act as may be prescribed.

49.— F36[…]

50.— (1) Without prejudice to the State Authorities (Public Private Partnership Arrangements) Act 2002, a water services authority, subject to any conditions of a related planning permission under the Act of 2000, may enter into an agreement.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the agreement referred to in subsection (1) is an agreement with any person proposing to construct any waterworks or waste water works, or any part of a waterworks or waste water works, F37[…] for the purpose of that waterworks or waste water works, or part of it being constructed by that person in accordance with the agreement.

(3) The agreement referred to in subsection (1) shall be entered into with a view to the water services authority, upon its completion and at a specified date, declaring by order the waterworks or waste water works, or such part of the waterworks or waste water works covered by the agreement, to be vested in the water services authority.

51.— (1) In this section “an authority” means a water services authority, an authorised provider of water services or a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services.

(2) An authority may temporarily interrupt service from a waterworks or a waste water works—

(a) for the purposes of executing any necessary works,

(b) in an emergency, including where an immediate risk to human health or the environment exists, or

(c) in such other circumstances as may be prescribed.

(3) An interruption of service under this Act, other than an interruption of service made in circumstances provided for in subsection (2)(b), shall only be effected after the user or users concerned have been given reasonable notice.

(4) In the case of an interruption of service made under subsection (2) an authority shall, subject to any agreement in force under section 32(1)(k)—

(a) ensure the restoration of the service as soon as possible, and

(b) arrange for the provision to the user or users concerned of an appropriate alternative supply of drinking water for domestic purposes where the service interruption exceeds 24 hours.

(5) Notwithstanding section 19, a notice under subsection (3) shall be deemed to have been served on all users concerned if it is—

(a) advertised in a newspaper circulating in the area in which an interruption of service is scheduled to take place,

(b) broadcast on a radio or television channel generally available in the area in which an interruption of service is scheduled to take place, or

(c) advertised in such other manner as the Minister may direct.

(6) The Minister may issue guidance in relation to what constitutes an appropriate alternative supply for the purposes of subsection (4)(b), and the exercise of its powers under this section by an authority shall be subject to any such guidance.

52.—F38[…]

53.— (1) A person who—

(a) makes or causes or permits a connection to be made to a water supply provided by a water services authority, otherwise than with the agreement of the relevant water services authority and in compliance with any conditions attaching to that agreement, or

(b) dishonestly uses, or causes to be diverted for dishonest use, or permits the dishonest use of any water supplied by a water services authority, or

(c) wilfully wastes or permits wastage of any water supplied by a water services authority to a material extent,

commits an offence.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) an act is done by a person dishonestly if the person does the act without claim of legal right.

(3) In this section “water services authority” includes also an authorised provider of water services or a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of a water services authority or an authorised provider of water services.

53A. (1) The Commission shall carry out a review to assess the rate of demand, over a 12 month period, for water services provided by Irish Water to dwellings.

(2) In carrying out the review under subsection (1) the Commission shall consider, in relation to water services provided by Irish Water to dwellings—

(a) the estimated rate of demand by an individual for provision of water services,

(b) the estimated rate of demand for provision of water services to dwellings, and the impact on that demand where the number of individuals who ordinarily reside in the dwelling concerned exceeds 4,

(c) information relating to trends or patterns in water usage evident in the provision of water services to dwellings (in this section referred to as ‘trends or patterns’) furnished by Irish Water to the Commission on receipt of a request in that behalf from the Commission,

(d) any trends or patterns identified by the Commission,

(e) the impact on trends or patterns of the number of individuals who ordinarily reside in a dwelling,

(f) statistics published by the Central Statistics Office relating to trends or patterns, and

(g) any other available information considered relevant by the Commission, including information arising from the exercise by it of its other water regulatory functions (within the meaning of section 27 of the Water Services Act 2013).

(3) A review under this section shall be carried out and completed—

(a) in respect of the first review, not later than one month after the coming into operation of this section, and

(b) in respect of each subsequent review, from time to time as determined by the Commission, and in any case not less than 6 months before the expiration of the period in respect of which, under section 22(2) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, the water charges plan under that section shall apply.

(4) As soon as may be following the completion of a review under this section, the Commission shall furnish a report of the findings of the review to the Minister and shall, in the report—

(a) provide an assessment of the average rate of demand for water services provided by Irish Water to a dwelling over the 12 month period to which the review refers (the ‘average rate’), and

(b) in relation to provision of water services—

(i) over the 12 month period to which the review refers, and

(ii) to a dwelling where the number of individuals who ordinarily reside in the dwelling concerned exceeds 4,

recommend an allowance (the ‘recommended allowance’) to be made in respect of the provision of water services to each individual, in excess of 4, who so resides in the dwelling.

(5) As soon as may be after furnishing the report to the Minister under subsection (4), the Commission shall publish—

(a) the report on a website maintained by the Commission, and

(b) a notice that the report has been published on the website in not fewer than 2 daily newspapers circulating throughout the State.]

53B. (1) The Minister, as soon as may be after he or she has considered the first report under section 53A (inserted by section 8 of the Water Services Act 2017) furnished to him or her, shall by order specify—

(a) the threshold amount, and

(b) the allowance amount.

(2) When making an order under subsection (1)(a), the Minister shall calculate the threshold amount by multiplying the average rate contained in the report furnished to him or her under section 53A by a multiplier of 1.7.

(3) The allowance amount specified by the Minister when making an order under subsection (1)(b) shall be the sum equivalent to the recommended allowance contained in the report under section 53A.

(4) The Minister, as soon as may be after he or she has considered a subsequent report furnished to him or her under section 53A—

(a) may amend the order made under subsection (1)(a), and

(b) shall, unless there has been no change in the recommended allowance specified in the previous report, amend the order made under subsection (1)(b) to specify the sum equivalent to the recommended allowance contained in that report.

(5) Where the Minister after consideration of a subsequent report furnished to him or her under section 53A amends, during the period of 5 years commencing on the coming into operation of this section, an order made under subsection (1)(a) or (4)(a), he or she shall calculate the threshold amount by multiplying the average rate specified in the subsequent report concerned by a multiplier of 1.7.

(6) Where the Minister after consideration of a subsequent report furnished to him or her under section 53A amends, at any time after the expiration of the period of 5 years commencing on the coming into operation of this section, an order made under subsection (1)(a) or (4)(a), he or she shall calculate the threshold amount by multiplying the average rate specified in the subsequent report concerned by a multiplier not exceeding 1.7.

(7) Before making an order under subsection (5) or (6) the Minister shall have regard to—

(a) the need to promote conservation of water and sustainable management of water resources,

(b) the need to prevent or abate risks to human health or the environment in the provision of water services,

(c) any river basin management plans for the time being in force made under Regulation 13 of the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 722 of 2003), and

(d) proper planning and sustainable development.

(8) Where an order is proposed to be made under subsection (6) a draft of the order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the Order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each such House.]

53C. (1) Irish Water shall not charge a customer for water services provided by Irish Water to the customer’s dwelling over a 12 month period unless the water services so provided exceed the threshold amount.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a calculation by Irish Water of water services provided to a customer’s dwelling may be made in respect of any 12 month period.]

53D. (1) Irish Water shall give a notice to a customer to whom, over a 12 month period, in relation to a dwelling, Irish Water provides water services exceeding the threshold amount.

(2) In the notice under subsection (1) Irish Water shall—

(a) identify the 12 month period concerned,

(b) inform the customer that the threshold amount has been exceeded in that 12 month period, and

(c) inform the customer that subsection (3) shall apply if the threshold amount continues to be exceeded over the 6 month period beginning on the day of the giving of the notice.

(3) A customer in relation to whose dwelling Irish Water provides water services exceeding the threshold amount over the 6 month period commencing on the day of the giving of a notice under subsection (1), shall be liable, in accordance with section 21 (amended by section 15 of the Water Services Act 2017) of the No. 2 Act of 2013, to pay Irish Water for any such water services provided by Irish Water that exceed the threshold amount—

(a) during that 6 month period, and

(b) during any period after the expiration of that 6 month period.]

53E. (1) A customer who receives a notice under section 53D may apply under this section to Irish Water for an allowance where the number of individuals who ordinarily reside in the dwelling concerned exceeds 4.

(2) For the purpose of this section Irish Water shall calculate the allowance—

(a) by reference to the 12 month period referred to in the notice under section 53D, and

(b) by multiplying the allowance amount by the number reached by reducing by 4 the total number of individuals ordinarily residing in the dwelling concerned over the 12 month period specified in the notice under section 53D.

(3) An allowance under this section may operate to wholly or partly reduce the liability of a customer to pay Irish Water under section 53D for provision of water services exceeding the threshold amount.

(4) A customer who has applied for or claimed an allowance in accordance with this section shall immediately give notice to Irish Water of any change in the number of individuals who reside in the dwelling concerned.

(5) The Minister may, for the purpose of this section prescribe minimum periods, within a specified period, during which an individual is required to reside in a dwelling in order to be considered ordinarily resident in the dwelling.

(6) The Minister shall for the purposes of an allowance under this section prescribe the following matters relating to an application for, and confirming continued entitlement to, an allowance under this section:

(a) procedures to be followed by a customer applying to Irish Water for an allowance;

(b) time limits within which, following receipt of a notice under section 53D, an application for an allowance is required to be made;

(c) information to be furnished by the customer claiming, or who has claimed, an allowance to satisfy Irish Water regarding the number of individuals ordinarily residing in the dwelling concerned;

(d) for the purposes of subsection (4), procedures to be followed by a customer and by Irish Water where there is a change in the number of individuals ordinarily residing in a dwelling at any time after the making of an application for, or the granting of, an allowance.]

53F. (1) A customer who receives a notice under section 53D may apply to Irish Water under this section for an exemption.

(2) Irish Water may grant an exemption to a customer from a liability to pay a charge under section 53D for provision of water services exceeding the threshold amount, where Irish Water is satisfied that an individual who ordinarily resides in the dwelling concerned has a medical need which requires that provision of water services exceeding the threshold amount.

(3) A customer who has applied for or claimed an exemption in accordance with this section shall immediately give notice to Irish Water—

(a) where any change in the medical need of the individual referred to in subsection (2) occurs, or

(b) where that individual ceases to ordinarily reside in the dwelling concerned.

(4) The Minister may, for the purpose of this section prescribe minimum periods, within a specified period, during which an individual is required to reside in a dwelling in order to be considered ordinarily resident in the dwelling.

(5) The Minister shall for the purpose of an exemption under this section prescribe any of the following matters relating to an application for, and confirming continued entitlement to, an exemption under this section:

(a) procedures to be followed by a customer applying to Irish Water for an exemption;

(b) information to be furnished by a customer on an application for an exemption including the form in which medical evidence shall be furnished;

(c) time limits within which, following receipt of a notice under section 53D, an application for an exemption is required to be made;

(d) information to be furnished explaining the increased demand for water services due to the medical need;

(e) categories of health professional who may provide medical evidence;

(f) any requirement that medical evidence should be provided by the health professional treating the individual the subject of the application;

(g) information to be furnished by the customer claiming, or who has claimed, the exemption to satisfy Irish Water that the individual the subject of the application ordinarily resides in the dwelling concerned;

(h) for the purposes of subsection (3), the procedures to be followed by a customer and by Irish Water where there is a change in the medical need of the individual the subject of the application at any time after the making of an application for, or the granting of, an exemption.]

54.— (1) The owner of a premises shall ensure that the internal distribution system of the premises is sufficient for, and maintained in such condition, as to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets prescribed quality requirements at the tap or taps used for such purposes.

(2) The owner of a premises shall ensure that the distribution system of the premises, and all taps connected to it are maintained in such condition as to ensure that water does not leak from the distribution system or any taps connected to it, and shall be responsible for its repair and renewal, save in the circumstances provided for in subsection (4).

(3) A water services authority may F45[…] by notice direct the owner of a premises to undertake such remedial action as may be specified in the notice, for the purpose of his or her compliance with subsection (1) or (2).

(4) A water services authority may—

(a) in lieu of issuing a notice under subsection (3), or

(b) in the event of failure by a person to whom a notice has been served under subsection (3), to comply with that notice,

execute such works as it considers necessary in the first instance, for the purpose of facilitating compliance with subsection (1) or (2), and may recover the costs of such works, or the costs of any investigations or enforcement undertaken by it for the purposes of this section, from the owner of a relevant premises.

(5) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of this section, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may include provisions in relation to—

(a) the action to be carried out under a notice under subsection (3),

(b) the time limit by which action directed to be carried out under a notice must be completed,

(c) the quality of materials and workmanship to be employed in any remedial action under a notice issued under subsection (3),

(d) powers of entry and investigation by authorised persons,

(e) such incidental provisions as are necessary to ensure the effective supervision by a water services authority of compliance with subsection (1) or (2) or enforcement of a notice issued under subsection (3),

(f) work standards and specifications for materials and fittings to be used in connection with work to which this section applies, or

(g) any incidental and ancillary matters.

(6) A person who—

(a) contravenes subsection (1) or (2),

(b) fails to comply with a notice under subsection (3), or

(c) contravenes a regulation made under this section,

commits an offence.

55.— (1) (a) A person who—

(i) causes or permits the connection of a premises to a water supply of a water services provider, either directly or indirectly, or

(ii) otherwise takes such a supply,

without the agreement of the water services provider, commits an offence.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), and without prejudice to subsection (5), the agreement of a water services authority under this subsection may be made the subject of such conditions as the water services authority may specify.

(c) In considering whether to agree to a connection under this section, a water services authority shall be entitled to take into account the matters referred to in paragraph 1 of the Fourth Schedule to the Act of 2000 in so far as they may apply to the provision of water supplies by it or another person acting jointly with it or on its behalf.

(2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence committed under subsection (1) to prove that the connection was made in accordance with a direction under section 92.

(3) Without prejudice to subsection (5), where a notice under section 42(2) takes effect in relation to any premises, agreement to a subsequent connection to a related waterworks shall be deemed to have been given for the purposes of compliance with subsection (1).

(4) Without prejudice to subsection (5), where a water services authority is also the relevant planning authority, the grant of a permission under Part III of the Act of 2000 in relation to a structure to which this section applies may, if it is indicated in the permission, include the agreement of the water services authority to the connection of that structure to its waterworks for the purposes of this section, subject to such conditions as the water services authority may require, consistent with its functions under this section.

(5) (a) As a condition to the agreement of a water services authority to the connection of a premises to water supplies which are provided, or to be provided, by the water services authority or any person providing water services jointly with it or on its behalf, the water services authority may, in its absolute discretion and for the purposes of this section, require—

(i) that the length or overall capacity of the service connection, or such related pipes or accessories as it considers necessary, be increased to such extent beyond technical requirements as it may specify so as to enable adjoining or other premises to be connected to a waterworks, but subject to the water services authority—

(I) paying for any consequential increase in the cost of providing and installing the service connection or related pipes or accessories, and

(II) taking the service connection or related pipes or accessories into its charge or otherwise entering into an agreement in relation to their future use with the person seeking its agreement to connect the premises to the said water services,

as if the requirement was a requirement under section 34(4)(m) of the Act of 2000, or

(ii) that the service connection, or such related pipes or accessories as it considers necessary, be opened for inspection or testing, or otherwise inspected or tested, by an authorised person.

(b) For the purposes of the application of section 34(4)(m) of the Act of 2000 to this subsection, a reference to a planning authority shall be deemed to include a reference to a water services authority.

(6) A connection to water services referred to in subsection (5) shall not be made until the authorised person is satisfied that—

(a) the service connection or related pipes or accessories are—

(i) of a proper standard,

(ii) have been installed correctly,

and

(b) a connection to the water services in question may be properly made.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6), and subject to any regulations under subsection (9), an authorised person may—

(a) give such direction in relation to—

(i) standards of workmanship or working practices generally,

(ii) technical specifications, including levels, for the service connection or related pipes or accessories, or their installation, or

(iii) the completion of the connection,

as appears to him or her to be necessary to comply with relevant prescribed standards, and

(b) carry out such inspection or testing as he or she considers necessary to verify compliance with a direction under paragraph (a).

(8) A water services authority, or any person providing water services jointly with it or on its behalf, may—

(a) close a connection to its water services made in contravention of subsection (1), or a connection to water services referred to in subsection (5) which is made in contravention of subsection (6) or a direction under subsection (7), or

(b) without prejudice to any power to prosecute provided for under this section—

(i) agree to the retention of a connection referred to in paragraph (a) subject to such conditions as it may specify, and

(ii) carry out such work on the connection (including associated pipes and fittings) as it considers necessary to bring it up to a proper standard, or direct that such work be carried out by a specified person,

and may recover any expenses incurred under this subsection from the person who made or caused the connection to be made, or on whose behalf it was made, or such other person who derives benefit from the connection.

(9) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of this section, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the regulations may include provisions in relation to—

(a) standards of workmanship or working practices,

(b) specifications for relevant materials and fittings, or

(c) any incidental and related matters.

(10) A water services authority may recover any expenses incurred by it in relation to its functions under this section from the person who is making or has made the relevant connection, or on whose behalf it is being or was made.

(11) A person who—

(a) makes a connection referred to in subsection (5) in contravention of subsection (6) or a direction under subsection (7), or

(b) contravenes a regulation under subsection (9),

commits an offence.

56.— (1) For the purposes of conserving water, where an authorised person has reason to believe that the management, consumption or other use of water on a premises allows water to be wasted or fails to prevent water from being wasted or consumed in excessive amounts, he or she may by notice direct the owner or occupier of the premises to take such corrective action (including installation, repair or replacement of specified pipes, valves or meters and other accessories, or change in operating practice in relation to the management or use of water) as the authorised person considers necessary.

(2) An authorised person may by notice direct the owner or occupier of a premises to limit consumption of water supplied by a water services authority to the premises to such rate or quantity as may be specified in the notice.

(3) Where an authorised person is of the opinion that an immediate risk to human health or the environment or to the integrity of a water service necessitates a reduction in consumption of water supplied, he or she may issue a notice (in this section referred to as an “emergency notice”), having immediate effect, directing the owner or occupier of a premises to limit consumption of water supplied by a water services authority to the premises to such rate or quantity as may be specified in the notice.

(4) A person who fails to comply with a notice under subsection (1), (2) or (3) commits an offence.

(5) A notice under subsection (1) or (2) or an emergency notice under subsection (3) may issue to such owners or occupiers of a premises, such classes of owners or occupiers of such classes of premises as the case may be, as the authorised person considers necessary for the purposes of this section.

(6) An emergency notice under subsection (3) may, notwithstanding section 19, also be issued by—

(a) advertisement in a newspaper circulating in the area concerned,

(b) broadcast on a radio or television channel generally available in the area, or

(c) such other means as the Minister may direct.

(7) A person to whom a notice under subsection (1) or (2) applies may, within one month from the date of the notice, appeal to the District Court in relation to the notice, or any condition of the notice.

(8) On the hearing of any appeal under subsection (7), the District Court may make an order upholding the notice or giving such directions to the water services authority concerned as the Court thinks proper in relation to the notice, including its amendment or withdrawal.

(9) A notice under subsection (1) or (2) shall become enforceable—

(a) in case an objection is not made against it, upon the expiration of one month from the date of the notice,

(b) in case an appeal is brought against it and the determination of the appeal does not set the notice aside, upon and in accordance with such determination, or

(c) in case an appeal is brought against it and the appeal is withdrawn, upon withdrawal of the appeal or on expiration of one month from the date of the notice, whichever is the later.

(10) An emergency notice under subsection (3) shall become enforceable on the date for compliance specified in the notice.

(11) (a) Where there is a failure to comply with a notice under subsection (1) or (2) or an emergency notice under subsection (3) the authorised person who issued such a notice may, on the issue of a further notice to the owner or occupier of a premises, restrict or cut off the supply of water to some or all of the premises referred to in the notice until he or she is satisfied that the notice under subsection (1) or (2) or the emergency notice under subsection (3) has been complied with.

(b) Paragraph (a) applies—

(i) in addition to and not in substitution for other penalties or provisions applying to non-compliance with a notice under subsection (1) or (2) or an emergency notice under subsection (3),

(ii) without prejudice to any other of the functions of the authorised person, and

(iii) at the discretion of the authorised person.

(12) Liability shall not accrue to a water services authority arising from any consequence of the restriction or cutting off of a supply of water in accordance with subsection (11).

(13) The Minister may make regulations for any of the following purposes, namely:

(a) the form and method of serving of a notice or emergency notice;

(b) the duration of a notice or emergency notice;

(c) review of an emergency notice;

(d) the action to be carried out under a notice or emergency notice;

(e) the time limit by which action directed to be carried out under a notice or emergency notice must be completed;

(f) the minimum period of notice and other procedures to be followed before a water supply is restricted or cut off;

(g) the quality of materials and workmanship to be employed in any remedial action under a notice;

(h) the prevention of waste, undue consumption, misuse or contamination of water; or

(i) such incidental provisions as are necessary to ensure the effective application of this section.

(14) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of water conservation and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may provide for 1 or more of the following:

(a) the specification of devices or systems to reduce demand for water in premises, and of obligations in relation to the design, installation or use of such devices or systems;

(b) the specification of obligations or technical requirements in relation to—

(i) the design, installation and use of devices or systems for collection, treatment or distribution of storm water or grey water,

(ii) the introduction of storm water or grey water into the distribution system of premises,

(iii) the redistribution of storm water or grey water for use for purposes other than human consumption;

(c) the specification of treatment standards for storm water or grey water, including different standards for different applications;

(d) the duties of owners or occupiers of premises in relation to conservation of water or waste water in the premises;

(e) the duties of water services providers in relation to conservation of water or waste water.

(15) (a) A person who contravenes a regulation under subsection (13) which is stated to be a penal regulation commits an offence.

(b) A person who contravenes a regulation under subsection (14) commits an offence.

(16) Where a water services authority is of the opinion that a serious deficiency of water available for distribution exists or is likely to exist F46[…], either by itself or by another provider of water services, then it may by order, for a specified period, prohibit or restrict such class or classes of use, including use at specified times of the day, of any water supplied by it or the other provider of water services. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, an order under this subsection may so prohibit or restrict the use of water—

(a) drawn through a hosepipe or similar apparatus for the purpose of—

(i) watering a garden,

(ii) watering recreational parks or sports grounds, either generally or any particular type of such park or ground,

(iii) irrigating or spraying crops, either generally or any particular type of crop, or

(iv) washing a mechanically propelled vehicle or a trailer,

(b) used for the provision of a commercial washing service for a vehicle or trailer, or

(c) used for filling or replenishing a swimming pool, artificial pond, lake or similar application.

(17) Before making an order under subsection (16) the relevant water services authority shall give public notice of its intention to make such order and the period for which the order will remain in force by—

(a) causing an advertisement to be published in a newspaper circulating in the area,

(b) causing notification of the proposed order to be broadcast on a radio or television channel available in the area, or

(c) such other means as the Minister may direct.

(18) A person who contravenes an order under subsection (16) commits an offence.

(19) An authorised person or a member of the Garda Síochána who has reasonable grounds for believing that a person is committing or has committed an offence under subsection (18), may request that person to furnish his or her name and address to such authorised person or member.

(20) A person who, when requested to furnish his or her name or address to an authorised person or member of the Garda Síochána under subsection (19), fails to do so, or when so requested furnishes a name and address which is false or misleading commits an offence.

(21) Where a member of the Garda Síochána is of the opinion that an offence under subsection (20) is being or has been committed, then the member may arrest that person without warrant.

(22) Where an authorised person or a member of the Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds for believing that a person is committing or has committed an offence under subsection (18), he or she may give to such person a notice in the prescribed form stating that—

(a) the person is alleged to have committed the offence,

(b) the person may during the period of 21 days beginning on the date of the notice make to the water services authority specified in the notice a payment, accompanied by the notice, of an amount, being a fixed amount of €125, and

(c) a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will not be instituted during the period specified in the notice, and if the payment specified in the notice is made during that period, no prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will be instituted.

(23) Where a notice is given under subsection (22), then—

(a) a person to whom the notice applies may, during the period specified in the notice, make to the water services authority specified in the notice the payment specified in the notice, accompanied by the notice,

(b) the water services authority shall receive the payment and issue a receipt for it and may retain the money so paid to offset costs incurred by it in the course of performing its functions under this Act, and no payment so received shall in any circumstances be recoverable by the person who made it, and

(c) a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence shall not be instituted in the period specified in the notice and, if the payment specified in the notice is made during that period, no prosecution in respect of the alleged offence shall be instituted.

(24) In a prosecution of an offence referred to in subsection (18), the onus of showing that a payment pursuant to a notice under subsection (22) has been made shall lie with the accused.

(25) In this section—

“grey water” means domestic waste water excluding that which is flushed from a toilet bowl or urinal;

“water services authority”, other than in subsections (16), (17) and (23), includes—

(a) an authorised provider of water services, and

(b) a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of—

(i) a water services authority, or

(ii) an authorised provider of water services.

57.— A person who causes or permits water in any waterworks or service connection to become polluted commits an offence.

58.— (1) A water services authority may, for the purposes of analysis, take samples from—

(a) any water supply, whether public or private, F47[…] and

(b) F47[…]

(2) Where, on analysis of samples of water taken by a water services authority, it is found that the water constitutes a potential danger to human health, the water services authority shall, as soon as possible—

(a) ensure that—

(i) the supply of affected water is prohibited, or

(ii) the use of affected water is restricted,

or

(b) ensure that—

(i) subject to regulations under section 32, such other necessary action, including remedial action, is taken to protect human health and to restore the quality of the supply to such prescribed standards as apply to the water supply concerned,

(ii) users are promptly informed of the potential danger and given any necessary advice, and

(iii) except where the extent of non-compliance with prescribed quality standards is considered by the water services authority not to be material in the circumstances, users are notified promptly of any remedial action taken.

(3) A water services authority may issue a notice for the purposes of this section, which, where it is addressed to users, may also—

(a) be given to such classes of users as the authority considers necessary, and

(b) notwithstanding section 19, be issued by—

(i) advertisement in a newspaper circulating in the area,

(ii) being broadcast on a radio or television channel generally available in the area,

(iii) being made available on the internet, or

(iv) such other manner as the Minister may direct.

(4) A person who contravenes a requirement of a notice under this section commits an offence.

59.— (1) Where a water services authority becomes aware that water from any source, whether surface water or groundwater or treated water, which is intended for human consumption constitutes a potential danger to human health, it may serve a notice, either on the owner or person having charge of that supply of water, requiring that person, as appropriate, to—

(a) shut down the water source in question,

(b) cease supplying water from that source, or

(c) take specified remedial action to restore water quality to the satisfaction of the water services authority before continuing to take or provide a supply of water from that source.

(2) A person who fails to comply with a requirement of a notice under subsection (1) commits an offence.

60.— (1) A person who owns, has in his or her charge or otherwise has control over a waste water works shall cause it to be properly maintained so as not to—

(a) cause, or be likely to cause a risk to human health or the environment, including risk to waters, the atmosphere, land, soil, plants or animals, or

(b) create a nuisance through odours.

(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence.

61.— (1) (a) A person who causes or permits the connection of a premises to waste water services, either directly or indirectly, without the agreement of the provider of those services, commits an offence.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), and without prejudice to subsection (6), the agreement of a water services authority under this subsection may be made the subject of such conditions as the water services authority may specify.

(c) In considering whether to agree to a connection under this section, a water services authority shall be entitled to take into account the matters referred to in paragraph 1 of the Fourth Schedule to the Act of 2000 in so far as they may apply to the provision of waste water services by it or another person acting jointly with it or on its behalf.

(2) A person who causes or permits the discharge of any effluent or other matter to a waste water works, whether directly or indirectly, without the agreement of the relevant water services provider commits an offence.

(3) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence committed under subsection (1) to prove that the connection was made in accordance with a direction under section 92.

(4) Without prejudice to subsection (6), where a notice under section 42(1) takes effect in relation to any premises, agreement to a subsequent connection to a related waste water works shall be deemed to have been given for the purposes of compliance with subsection (1).

(5) Without prejudice to subsection (6), where a water services authority is also the relevant planning authority, the grant of a permission under Part III of the Act of 2000 in relation to a structure to which this section applies may, if it is indicated in the permission, include the agreement of the water services authority to the connection of that structure to its waste water works for the purposes of this section, subject to such conditions as the water services authority may require consistent with its powers under this section.

(6) (a) As a condition to the agreement of a water services authority to the connection of a premises to waste water services which are provided, or to be provided, by the water services authority or any person providing water services jointly with it or on its behalf, the water services authority may, at its absolute discretion and for the purposes of this section, require—

(i) that the length or overall capacity of the service connection, or such related pipes or accessories as it considers necessary, be increased to such extent beyond technical requirements as it may specify so as to enable adjoining or other premises to be connected to a waste water works, but subject to the water services authority—

(I) paying for any consequential increase in the cost of providing and installing the service connection or related pipes or accessories, and

(II) taking the service connection or related pipes or accessories into its charge or otherwise entering into an agreement in relation to their future use with the person seeking its agreement to connect the premises to the said waste water services,

as if the requirement was a requirement under section 34(4)(m) of the Act of 2000, or

(ii) that the service connection, or such related drainage pipes or accessories as it considers necessary, be opened for inspection or testing, or otherwise inspected or tested, by an authorised person.

(b) For the purposes of the application of section 34(4)(m) of the Act of 2000 to this subsection, a reference to a planning authority shall be deemed to include a reference to a water services authority.

(7) A connection to water services referred to in subsection (6) shall not be made until the authorised person is satisfied that—

(a) the service connection or related pipes or accessories are—

(i) of a proper standard,

(ii) have been installed correctly, and

(b) a connection to the water services in question may be properly made.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (7), and subject to any regulations under subsection (10), an authorised person may—

(a) give such direction in relation to—

(i) standards of workmanship or working practices generally,

(ii) technical specifications, including levels, for the service connection or related pipes or accessories, or their installation, or

(iii) the completion of the connection,

as appear to him or her to be necessary to comply with relevant prescribed standards, and

(b) carry out such inspection or testing as he or she considers necessary to verify compliance with a direction under paragraph (a).

(9) A water services authority, or any person providing water services jointly with it or on its behalf, may—

(a) close a connection to its water services made in contravention of subsection (1), or a connection to water services referred to in subsection (6) which is made in contravention of subsection (7) or a direction under subsection (8), or

(b) without prejudice to any power to prosecute provided for under this section—

(i) agree to the retention of a connection referred to in paragraph (a) subject to such conditions as it may specify, and

(ii) carry out such work on the connection (including associated pipes and fittings) as it considers necessary to bring it up to a proper standard, or direct that such work be carried out by a specified person,

and may recover any expenses incurred under this subsection from the person who made or caused the connection to be made, or on whose behalf it was made, or such other person who derives benefit from the connection.

(10) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of this section, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the regulations may include provisions in relation to—

(a) standards of workmanship or working practices,

(b) specifications for relevant materials and fittings, or

(c) any incidental and related matters.

(11) A water services authority may recover any costs incurred by it in relation to its functions under this section from the person who is making or has made the relevant connection, or on whose behalf it is being or was made.

(12) A person who—

(a) makes a connection referred to in subsection (6) in contravention of subsection (7) or a direction under subsection (8), or

(b) contravenes a regulation under subsection (10),

commits an offence.

62.— (1) It shall be lawful for a water services authority after 7 days notice in writing to the occupier of the land in which such sewer or part thereof is situated or, in case of emergency, without notice or after shorter notice, to cause such tests to be carried out as it considers necessary, or cause such sewers, or part thereof to be opened and examined, and for those purposes to cause any necessary openings and excavations to be made, where it appears to the water services authority that a sewer or part thereof may—

(a) be, or may be likely to become inadequate, defective, foul or neglected,

(b) cause a risk to human health or the environment, or

(c) permit infiltration or exfiltration of water or waste water.

(2) If a sewer, or part thereof, is found on an examination or test under subsection (1) of this section not to be inadequate, defective, foul or neglected, or cause a risk to human health or the environment or permit infiltration of water, the water services authority which authorised the examination shall, subject to subsections (4) and (5), cause such sewer to be restored and any openings or excavations made in connection with the examination to be closed or filled up and any damage done to be made good.

(3) If a sewer, or part thereof, is found following test or examination under subsection (1) to be inadequate, defective, foul or neglected and any works are necessary for the abatement or prevention of risk to human health or the environment or the infiltration of water, the following provisions shall have effect:

(a) the water services authority may, at its absolute discretion—

(i) execute such works in the first instance or in the event of failure to comply with a notice under subparagraph (ii), or

(ii) direct the owner of the sewer by notice to execute such works;

(b) the water services authority may recover the cost of such works (including the cost of the test or examination) from the owner of the sewer.

(4) If a drain or related service connection or part thereof is found on investigation by a water services authority not to be inadequate, defective, foul or neglected or to permit the infiltration or exfiltration of water or waste water, but it appears to the water services authority that any separate premises drained by such system or part thereof is not drained satisfactorily, the water services authority may serve notice on the owner in accordance with section 42 , or may provide or contribute to the cost of providing drainage for the premises.

(5) If a drain or related service connection or part thereof is found on investigation by a water services authority to be inadequate, defective, foul or neglected or to permit infiltration or exfiltration of water or waste water, and it appears to the water services authority that after executing the necessary remedial works, any premises would still not be drained satisfactorily, such water services authority may serve on the owner of such premises a notice under section 42, or may provide or contribute to the cost of providing drainage for the premises.

(6) Where a drain or service connection used for the whole or any part of the drainage of the premises, to which this section refers, is used in common by two or more premises, notice under section 42 may be served on any one or more of the owners, and it shall not be necessary to serve such notice on all such owners.

(7) For the purposes of this section, any drain, toilet or washing facility shall be regarded as part of the drain of the premises which it serves.

(8) A person who fails to comply with a direction under subsection (3)(a)(ii) commits an offence.

63.— (1) (a) A person other than a water services authority shall not, after such date as may be fixed for the purpose of this section by order made by the Minister, discharge or cause or permit the discharge, either directly or indirectly, of any trade effluent or other matter (other than domestic waste water or storm water) to a sewer or part thereof which is owned, vested in or otherwise under the control of a water services authority, or a person providing water services under an agreement with a water services authority, except under and in accordance with a licence under this section granted by the water services authority which owns the sewer or in which the sewer is vested or by which it is controlled, or under an agreement with which a person providing water services is providing or otherwise controls such sewer.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), subject to section 92, the issue of a licence under this section to discharge to a sewer or part thereof which is owned, vested in or otherwise under the control of a person providing services under an agreement with a water services authority shall be subject to the agreement of that person to the discharge to the sewer.

(c) A licence issued under paragraph (a) to a water services provider in respect of the discharge of trade effluent or other matter (other than domestic waste water or storm water) to a sewer may, where the issuing authority is the same water services authority, be incorporated into the licence issued by that authority to the water services provider under Part 6 of this Act in respect of the provision of that water service which gives rise to the discharge in question to the sewer.

(2) (a) A water services authority may at its discretion—

(i) refuse to grant a licence under this section,

(ii) grant a licence subject to such conditions as it thinks appropriate and specifies in the licence.

(b) In considering whether or not to grant a licence under this section a water services authority shall take full account of—

(i) the objectives contained in any relevant plan under section 15 of the Act of 1977 and under section 36, and

(ii) whether the grant of such a licence would be prejudicial to the waste water works into which the proposed discharge would be made.

(3) A water services authority shall not grant a licence under this section in respect of the discharge of a trade effluent which would not comply with any relevant standard prescribed under section 26 of the Act of 1977, or would be inconsistent with requirements of subsection (2)(b).

(4) A water services authority shall take all such steps as may be appropriate in the discharge of its functions under this section, and under section 99E of the Act of 1992 as inserted by section 15 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, to ensure that the requirements of Schedule 2 are complied with in respect to the discharge of relevant waste water, and shall review, and if necessary revise, any licence concerned at intervals provided for in section 65.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), conditions attached to a licence under this section may—

(a) relate to—

(i) the nature, composition, temperature, volume, rate, method of treatment and location of a discharge and the periods during which a discharge may be made or may not be made,

(ii) the provision and maintenance of meters, gauges, other apparatus, manholes and inspection chambers,

(iii) the taking and analysis of samples, the keeping of records and furnishing of information to the water services authority,

(iv) measuring the intake of water to a premises for the purpose of assessing waste water discharge volumes,

(v) action to be taken in the event of an emergency,

(b) provide for the payment by the holder of the licence to the water services authority concerned of such amount or amounts, as may be determined by the water services authority having regard to the expenditure incurred or to be incurred by it, in relation to its administration of the licensing system provided for in this section, including monitoring the discharge of trade effluent or other matter, and

(c) specify a date not later than which any conditions shall be complied with.

(6) Any conditions attached to a licence under this section shall be binding on any person discharging, or causing or permitting the discharge of trade effluent or other matter to which the licence relates.

(7) Where, after 3 years from the date on which a licence under this section is granted, no discharge of the type authorised by the licence has been made, or, at any time, where such a discharge has ceased for a period of 3 years, the licence shall cease to have effect.

(8) A water services authority may serve on any person making, causing or permitting a discharge or entry in contravention of any of the provisions of this section, a notice requiring the ceasing of the contravention within such period as may be specified in the notice and requiring mitigation or remedying of any effects of the contravention within such period and in such manner as may be so specified.

(9) Where a person does not comply with a notice under subsection (8) within the period specified in the notice, the water services authority which served the notice may take any steps it considers necessary to prevent the discharge or entry or to mitigate or remedy any effects of the contravention and may recover the cost of such steps from the person on whom the notice is served.

(10) A notice may be served under subsection (8) whether or not there has been a prosecution under this section.

(11) A person who contravenes subsection (1), fails to comply with a requirement applied by regulations under subsection (14), or who fails to comply with a notice under subsection (8) or a condition of a licence issued by a water services authority under this section, commits an offence.

(12) (a) A person who, in relation to an application for a licence under this section, or a review of a licence under section 65 or an appeal under section 66, when furnishing information under this section or when verifying any such information, makes a statement, in writing or otherwise, which is false or to his or her knowledge misleading in a material respect, commits an offence.

(b) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this subsection, any licence issued to that person consequent on the application or appeal in relation to which the information was furnished shall stand revoked from the date of the conviction.

(13) F48[…]

(14) (a) The Minister may by regulations—

(i) apply the requirements of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) to such class or classes of domestic waste water or storm water, or

(ii) exempt from paragraph (a) of subsection (1) such class or classes of discharge,

as he or she considers appropriate in the circumstances.

(b) The Minister shall not make regulations under paragraph (a) without having consulted with any Minister of the Government whom he or she considers ought to be consulted in relation to the making of the regulations, having regard to his or her functions.

(c) Regulations under paragraph (a) may specify requirements in relation to exempted classes of discharge, without prejudice to the generality of which may provide for—

(i) measures to avoid risk to human health or the environment or prejudicial effect on the collection, treatment, recovery or disposal of such discharges,

(ii) monitoring and inspection, or

(iii) recovery of monitoring and inspection costs.

(15) It shall be a defence to a prosecution for an offence under any enactment other than this Act that the act constituting the alleged offence is authorised by a licence under this section, provided that the licence was not obtained through intentional or negligent misrepresentation in the application.

(16) A person shall not be entitled solely by reason of a licence under this section to make, cause or permit a discharge to a sewer.

(17) It is an offence to contravene a regulation made under subsection (14) in respect of measures to avoid risk to human health or the environment or prejudicial effect on the collection, treatment, recovery or disposal of discharges.

(18) (a) Where a water services authority has obtained a court order in respect of the recovery of a charge to offset the costs incurred by it for the purpose of the treatment and recovery or disposal of the effluent to which a licence under this section relates and the charge remains unpaid, then a water services authority may by order declare that the licence stands revoked with effect from a date specified in the order and shall so stand revoked unless the charge is paid to the water services authority before that date.

(b) A licence revoked under paragraph (a) shall not be subject to appeal under section 66.

64.— (1) In this section—

“existing discharge” means a discharge which is similar in nature, composition and temperature to, and is of a similar volume and is made at a similar rate to, a discharge made during any corresponding period in the period of 12 months ending on the relevant date;

“relevant date” means the date fixed by order under section 63.

(2) Where a water services authority proposes to grant a licence under section 63 for an activity in respect of which a licence has been granted under section 16 of the Act of 1977, the water services authority shall, if the licence is being granted during the period of 3 years from the grant of the aforementioned licence, have regard to the conditions (if any) attached to such licence and the costs in relation to the activity which would be incurred if different conditions were attached to the licence to be granted under section 63.

(3) A person shall be deemed not to have contravened section 63(1) in relation to an existing discharge of trade effluent made in accordance with a licence under section 16 of the Act of 1977 if, before the relevant date, he or she applies for a licence under this section and complies with the requirements of any regulations under section 67 regarding the furnishing of information to a water services authority.

(4) In a prosecution for an offence under section 63 it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown by the person charged, that the discharge concerned is not an existing discharge of trade effluent or other matter made in the circumstances specified in subsection (3).

(5) On or after the commencement of this section, the relevant water services authority shall ensure that an activity for which a licence is required under section 63 is carried out in accordance with any licence issued under section 16 of the Act of 1977 for the same discharge until a decision on an application for a licence under section 63 or an appeal under section 66, made in accordance with the requirements of this Act, has been made, as the case may be, at which stage the licence under the Act of 1977 will lapse.

(6) Notwithstanding section 63(1), where a licence under section 16 of the Act of 1977 lapses before a decision on an application for a licence under that section or an appeal under section 66, as the case may be, has been made, the discharge to which the licence relates may continue, subject to the conditions (if any) attached to such licence, until a decision on an application for a licence under section 63 or an appeal under section 66 as the case may be, has been made, provided that the application for the licence under section 63 or an appeal to the Board under section 66 has been made in the manner prescribed by such date as may be prescribed by the Minister for the purposes of those sections.

(7) Where, before the commencement of section 63 there is an application for a licence to discharge or cause or permit the discharge of any trade effluent or other matter (other than domestic sewage or storm water) to a sewer or part thereof which is owned, vested in or otherwise under the control of a water services authority or of a person providing water services under an agreement with a water services authority, and a decision on the application has yet to be made by the water services authority, the application shall, on commencement of section 63, be deemed to be an application under that section.

(8) Notwithstanding subsection (7), neither this section nor section 63 shall apply to an activity where an appeal to the Board under section 20 of the Act of 1977, as inserted by the Act of 1990 has been, or may still be made, until the time for making the appeal has expired or the appeal has been determined or withdrawn and the licence (if any) issued, as the case may be, and the powers of the Board under the Act of 1977 shall continue to apply for this purpose.

65.— (1) A water services authority may review a licence under section 63 at intervals of not less than 3 years from the date of the licence or the last review of the licence, or at any time with the consent of the person making, causing or permitting the discharge.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any condition in a licence under section 63, any such licence may be reviewed at any time by the water services authority that granted it if—

(a) the water services authority has reasonable grounds for believing that the discharge authorised by the licence conflicts, or is likely to conflict, with the sustainable use of water resources or is inconsistent, or likely to be inconsistent, with requirements of a river basin management plan or a programme of measures under the EU Water Framework Directive,

(b) there has been a material change in the nature or volume of the discharge,

(c) there has been a material change in relation to the waters to which the sewer concerned discharges,

(d) further information has become available since the date of the granting of the licence relating to polluting matter present in the discharge concerned or relating to the effects of that matter,

(e) the licensee applies to the water services authority concerned to review the licence,

(f) a revision has been made to standards for effluent discharges under this Act or any other enactment,

(g) the capacity of the receiving waste water works has been or is likely to be exceeded, or

(h) a drain or service connection, or part of a drain or service connection, through which trade effluent or other relevant matter is discharged under the terms of the licence is declared to be a sewer under section 69.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where regulations are made under section 26 of the Act of 1977 relating to a trade effluent or sewage effluent from a sewer or to waters to which a sewer discharges, a licence under section 63 shall be reviewed by the water services authority F49[…] as soon as may be after the commencement of such regulations and thereafter at such intervals as may be specified in the regulations.

(4) Upon completion of a review under this section, a water services authority may amend or delete any condition of the licence or attach conditions or additional conditions to the licence or revoke the licence; and if a water services authority proposes to exercise a power aforesaid, it shall do so as soon as may be after the completion of the relevant review under this section.

(5) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of this section.

(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5), regulations under that subsection may make provision in relation to all or any of the following matters:

(a) the giving of notice by a water services authority to a person discharging or causing or permitting a discharge of its intention to review a licence;

(b) the insertion of a requirement in such a notice that representations relating to the review may be made within a specified period;

(c) the payment to water services authorities of fees of such amounts as may be specified in the regulations in relation to reviews of licences;

(d) the payment of fees of different amounts in respect of different classes of such reviews as aforesaid;

(e) exemption from the payment of such fees in such circumstances as may be specified;

(f) the waiver, remission or refund (in whole or in part) of such fees in such circumstances as may be specified, or

(g) the manner in which fees may be disposed of.

66.— (1) (a) A person causing or permitting a discharge to which a licence under section 63 relates may, before the expiration of such period as may be prescribed, appeal to the Board in relation to—

(i) the revocation of the licence,

(ii) the attachment of conditions or additional conditions to the licence, or

(iii) the amendment or deletion of any condition attached to the licence,

by a water services authority.

(b) A person whose application for a licence under section 63 has been refused by a water services authority may, before the expiration of such period as may be prescribed, appeal to the Board in relation to the refusal.

(c) An act of a water services authority referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) shall have effect—

(i) in case an appeal is not brought against it, upon the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), as the case may be,

(ii) in case an appeal is brought against it and the final determination of the appeal does not set the act aside, upon and in accordance with such final determination, or

(iii) in case an appeal is brought against it and the appeal is withdrawn, upon the withdrawal of the appeal.

(2) The Board, after consideration of an appeal under this section, shall either, as it thinks proper, allow or refuse the appeal in whole or in part, or, give appropriate direction to the water services authority concerned relating to the granting or refusal of a licence, or the attachment, amendment or deletion of conditions, and a water services authority shall comply with any such direction.

67.— (1) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of licensing under section 63 and appeals under section 66.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under this section may make provision for all or any of the following:

(a) the form of licence;

(b) requiring the furnishing by applicants of specified information in relation to an application for a licence;

(c) requiring the production of evidence to verify any information given by an applicant;

(d) requiring water services authorities to furnish to the Minister, to the Board or to any other specified persons any specified information in relation to any applications and the manner in which they have been dealt with;

(e) requiring an applicant to defray or contribute towards the cost of any investigation carried out by a water services authority in relation to an application;

(f) the oral hearing of any appeal to the Board and any such oral hearing being conducted by the Board or by a person appointed for that purpose by the Board;

(g) any procedural matter in relation to appeals under section 66;

(h) the payment to a water services authority of a fee of such amount as may be specified in respect of an application to it for a licence under section 63;

(i) the payment of fees of different amounts in respect of different classes of such applications;

(j) exemption from the payment of fees provided for under paragraph (h) or (i) in such circumstances as may be specified;

(k) the waiver, remission or refund (in whole or in part) of such fees in such circumstances as may be specified; or

(l) the purpose for which fees may be used.

(3) Where, under regulations made under this section, a fee is payable to a water services authority in respect of an application for a licence under section 63, the water services authority shall not consider the application unless the fee is received by the water services authority.

(4) A defrayment or contribution under subsection (2)(e) or a fee under subsection (2)(h) or (i) or an amount specified under section 63(5)(b) shall be payable on demand by the applicant or licence holder as the case may be.

68.— (1) For the purposes of this section—

“temporary dwellings” means any—

(a) tent, or

(b) van or other conveyance (whether on wheels or not), or

(c) shed, hut or similar structure,

used on a temporary basis for human habitation or constructed or adapted for such use;

“traveller community” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Equal Status Act 2000;

“vehicle” includes any car, van, bus, lorry, truck or train;

“vessel” means a water-borne craft of any type, whether self-propelled or not, and includes any air-cushion craft, ship, boat, barge or lighter.

(2) A water services authority may provide or arrange for the provision of facilities for the reception and disposal of sewage from vessels, vehicles, aircraft or temporary dwellings, and may impose fees or other charges for the provision or use of such facilities.

(3)F50[…]

69.— (1) (a) In this section a reference to a drain shall be construed as a reference to a drain or a service connection.

(b) An order under subsection (2) may relate to all or a specified part only of a specified drain, and references in this section to a drain shall be construed accordingly.

(2) A water services authority may by order declare that a specified drain shall be regarded as a sewer under the control of the water services authority for the purposes of section 63 and for no other purpose.

(3) Whenever a water services authority proposes to make an order under subsection (2) in relation to a drain—

(a) it shall, not less than 30 days before the date of the making of the order, give notice in writing of its intention to make the order to the owner of the drain and any person causing or permitting a discharge of trade effluent or other matter (other than domestic waste water or storm water) to the drain, and

(b) a person on whom a notice is served under paragraph (a) may within 30 days of the giving to him or her of the aforesaid notice make representations in writing to the water services authority in relation to the making of the order and the authority shall, before deciding whether to make the order, take into consideration any representations made by that person.

(4) An order under subsection (2) shall come into operation on such date (not being less than 6 months after the date of its making) as may be specified therein.

(5) Copies of an order under subsection (2) shall, within 10 days after the date of its making, be deposited and made available for inspection and purchase at the offices of the water services authority F51[…] and a copy thereof shall, within the period aforesaid, be given or served on each person served under subsection (3)(a).

(6) (a) Where an order is made by a water services authority under subsection (2), then any person causing or permitting a discharge of trade effluent or other matter (other than domestic waste water or storm water) to the drain concerned shall, within 6 months after the order is made—

(i) apply to the authority which made the order for a licence under section 63 in respect of the discharge, or

(ii) cease the discharge.

(b) (i) A person who, in pursuance of paragraph (a), duly applies for a licence under section 63 and furnishes any information duly required by the water services authority concerned in relation to the application shall be deemed not to have contravened section 63 during the period from the commencement of the order to the grant or, as the case may be, the expiration of one month after the refusal to grant the licence, in respect of any discharge to the drain concerned that is similar in nature, composition, temperature and volume, and is made, during that period, at a rate similar to that of the discharge concerned to which paragraph (a) relates during the corresponding period before such commencement.

(ii) In a prosecution for an offence under section 63 it shall be presumed until the contrary is shown that the discharge concerned is not one to which subparagraph (i) applies.

(c) Where a drain or part of a drain through which relevant effluent is discharged is declared to be a sewer under subsection (2), then a licence under section 4 of the Act of 1977 may be reviewed by the local authority which granted it, in accordance with the provisions of that Act.

(7) A person who fails to apply for a licence or to cease a discharge to which subsection (6)(a) refers within 6 months from commencement of the relevant order commits an offence.

(8) The Minister may make regulations in relation to administrative procedures under this section.

70.— (1) The occupier of a premises (or if unoccupied the owner) shall not permit waste water to be discharged from the premises to a sewer in a manner that—

(a) causes, or is likely to cause a risk to human health or the environment, including risk to waters, the atmosphere, land, soil, plants or animals, or

(b) creates a nuisance through odours.

(2) The owner of a premises shall ensure that all drains, manholes, gullytraps and storage and treatment systems for waste water, including related accessories, not in the charge of a water services provider, which serve that premises are kept so as not to—

(a) cause, or be likely to cause, a risk to human health or the environment, including to waters, the atmosphere, land, soil, plants or animals, or

(b) create a nuisance through odours.

(3) A person shall not throw or cause to be thrown, pass or cause to be passed any matter or substance into any sewer or drain—

(a) by which the free flow of the contents of such sewer or drain may be interfered with,

(b) by which any such sewer, drain or related waste water works may be damaged,

(c) which would prejudicially affect the treatment, recovery or disposal of the contents of the sewer or drain, whether because of its temperature, chemical composition or otherwise,

(d) which causes, or is likely to cause, a risk to human health or safety or gives rise to, or is likely to give rise to substances which cause such risk, or

(e) which causes or is likely to cause a risk to the environment, including to waters, the atmosphere, land, soil, plants or animals.

(4) A person shall not permit or cause the entry of any polluting matter, including sewage, to any drain or sewer provided or used solely for the reception or disposal of storm water.

(5) The occupier of a premises (or if unoccupied the owner) shall notify the water services authority F52[when a leak], accident or other incident occurs concerning waste water discharges from the premises to a drain, sewer or treatment system which is causing or is likely to cause a risk to human health or safety, or the environment, or which prejudicially affects, or is likely so to do, the treatment, recovery or disposal of the contents of the drain, sewer or treatment system, and shall actively co-operate with the water services authority and comply with the instructions of the water services authority in relation to measures necessary to effect remediation.

(6) A water services authority or any person affected by a failure, or alleged failure of a third party to comply with a duty of care provided for under this section may complain to the District Court, and the Court may order the third party to take the measures necessary to effect a cessation of the activity which is the subject of the complaint, or to take specified measures to effect compliance with their obligations under this section.

(7) Before a complaint is made to the District Court under subsection (6), the water services authority or the person concerned, as the case may be, shall serve a notice in the prescribed form of the intention to make such a complaint, within such time as may be specified in the notice, on the said third party.

(8) In a prosecution for a contravention of subsection (1) or (3) or in proceedings under subsection (6) it shall be a defence to prove that the activity concerned was carried out in accordance with a licence or revised licence under Part 4 of the Act of 1992 or a licence under section 16 of the Act of 1977 or section 63, provided that the licence was not obtained through intentional or negligent misrepresentation in the application.

(9) The Minister may make regulations to prohibit or restrict, or to specify measures (including pre-treatment requirements) to be undertaken prior to, the discharge of specified effluent to a drain or waste water works.

(10) A person who fails to comply with or contravenes subsection (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) or a regulation under subsection (9) commits an offence.

(11) In this section a reference to a drain shall be construed as a reference to a drain or a service connection.

70A.— In this Part—

‘advisory notice’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 70H;

‘certificate of registration’ means a certificate of registration issued under section 70B;

‘domestic waste water treatment system’ means a system involving physical, chemical, biological or thermal processes, or a combination of such processes, utilised for the treatment or disposal of domestic waste water, or the sludge derived from domestic waste water, and includes—

(a) all septic tanks and waste water tanks and systems receiving, storing, treating or disposing of domestic waste water and all drains associated with such tanks or systems, and

(b) all drains associated with the discharge of domestic waste water, whether or not they discharge to a septic tank or waste water tank;

‘inspector’ means a person appointed by the Agency in accordance with section 70E;

‘national inspection plan’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 70K;

‘prescribed date’ means the date prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under section 70B;

‘register of domestic waste water treatment systems’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 70B. ]

70B.— (1) Each water services authority shall establish and maintain a register of domestic waste water treatment systems situated within its functional area (in this Part referred to as a ‘register of domestic waste water treatment systems’).

(2) The owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system shall, on or before the prescribed date and in accordance with this section, apply to the water services authority in whose functional area the treatment system is situated, to have the treatment system entered in the register of domestic waste water treatment systems maintained by the water services authority concerned.

(3) An application under this section shall—

(a) be made in writing or by electronic means,

(b) specify the name of the applicant and the address at which he or she normally resides,

(c) specify the address at which the domestic waste water treatment system is situated,

(d) contain such other information as may be prescribed, and

(e) in the case of an application under subsection (2), be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

(4) On receipt of an application under this section, a water services authority shall—

(a) enter the domestic waste water treatment system concerned in the register of domestic waste water treatment systems for the functional area of the water services authority concerned, and

(b) issue a certificate of registration to the applicant.

(5) A certificate of registration shall be valid F55[…] from the date on which it was issued.

(6) F56[…]

(7) F57[…]

(8) A water services authority shall, from time to time, review each entry in the register of domestic waste water treatment systems maintained by it and, if the water services authority becomes aware that any particular in the register is incorrect or has ceased to be correct, the water services authority shall make such alteration to the register as it considers necessary and shall notify any person it considers appropriate of such alteration.

(9) A register of domestic waste water treatment systems shall be maintained by a water services authority in such form (including electronic form) as the Agency may direct and shall contain—

(a) details of domestic waste water treatment systems which have been entered on the register by the water services authority concerned, including the date on which each system was entered on the register and the date on which each certificate of registration is due to expire,

(b) details of domestic waste water treatment systems in the functional area of the water services authority concerned which have been inspected under section 70H,

(c) details of advisory notices issued by the water services authority concerned,

(d) details of applications made under subsection (7) of section 70H,

(e) details of appeals made under subsection (9) of section 70H,

(f) details of notices of compliance made by the water services authority concerned under section 70H(17), and

(g) such other information as may be determined by the Agency from time to time.

(10) A water services authority shall publish in such manner as it thinks fit, including by electronic means, and make available for inspection at all reasonable times by members of the public, the register of domestic waste water treatment systems maintained by it under this section.

(11) An authorised person appointed by a water services authority may request the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system to produce a valid certificate of registration in respect of the system.

(12) A person who fails to comply with a request under subsection (11) within 20 working days, commits an offence.

(13) The Minister may, following consultation with the Agency, make regulations for the purposes of this section and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, regulations under this section may prescribe:

(a) the form and manner, including by electronic means, in which an application, under subsection (2) or (6) shall be made;

(b) the fee payable to the water services authority, which shall not exceed €50, which shall accompany an application under subsection (2);

(c) the date for the purposes of subsection (2); and

(d) such consequential or ancillary matters as the Minister considers appropriate.]

70C.— (1) The owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system shall—

(a) comply with regulations made under section 70L,

(b) ensure that the system does not constitute, and is not likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment, and, in particular does not—

(i) create a risk to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals,

(ii) create a nuisance through noise or odours, or

(iii) adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest,

and

(c) ensure that the system is entered on a register of domestic waste water treatment systems in accordance with section 70B.

(2) A person who contravenes paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) commits an offence.]

70D.— (1) A person who, on or after the prescribed date, sells a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system, shall on the completion of the sale, furnish a valid certificate of registration in respect of the treatment system concerned to the purchaser of the premises.

(2) A purchaser of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system shall, after the completion of the sale, notify the relevant water services authority of the change in ownership and the water services authority concerned shall update the register of domestic waste water treatment systems accordingly. ]

70E.— (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Agency shall appoint such persons as it considers appropriate to carry out inspections of domestic waste water treatment systems for the purposes of this Part.

(2) The Agency shall not appoint a person to be an inspector for the purposes of this Part unless that person—

(a) has made an application to the Agency in the prescribed form accompanied by the prescribed fee,

(b) is the holder of a prescribed professional or technical qualification,

(c) has satisfactorily completed a prescribed training course,

(d) is the holder of the prescribed professional indemnity insurance, and

(e) has complied with any other prescribed requirements.

(3) An appointment under subsection (1) shall cease if—

(a) the Agency revokes the appointment, or

(b) the appointment is for a fixed period, on the expiration of that period.

(4) Where the Agency—

(a) refuses to appoint or renew the appointment of an inspector under this section, or

(b) revokes the appointment of an inspector under paragraph (a) of subsection (3),

the Agency shall notify the person in writing of the refusal or revocation together with the reasons for the refusal or revocation and the person may appeal the refusal or revocation in the prescribed manner.

(5) The Agency may, with the consent of the Minister, appoint one or more persons who, in the opinion of the Agency, have the relevant knowledge and experience in relation to domestic waste water treatment systems and the procedures in relation to carrying out an inspection to be an appeals officer for the purposes of this section (in this section referred to as an ‘appeals officer’).

(6) An appeals officer shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions under this section.

(7) An appeals officer shall consider an appeal under subsection (4) and shall, in accordance with prescribed procedures, allow or refuse the appeal.

(8) An inspector shall be furnished with a certificate of his or her appointment by the Agency.

(9) When exercising a power conferred on him or her by this Part, an inspector shall, if requested by a person affected, produce the certificate of his or her appointment or a copy of it and a form of personal identification to that person.

(10) A person who acts as an inspector for the purposes of this Part—

(a) without having been duly appointed under subsection (1),

(b) after his or her appointment has been revoked under paragraph (a) of subsection (3), or

(c) after the expiration of his or her term of appointment,

commits an offence.

(11) The Minister may, following consultation with the Agency, make regulations for the purposes of this section and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, regulations under this section may provide for—

(a) application procedures in relation to the appointment, and renewal of appointment, of inspectors,

(b) criteria for appointment of inspectors, including specification of the relevant:

(i) class or classes of professional or technical qualifications to be held by a person appointed as an inspector,

(ii) class or classes of training course which a person appointed as an inspector shall have satisfactorily completed, and

(iii) professional indemnity insurance to be held by a person appointed as an inspector,

(c) an application form for appointment as an inspector (including an application form to renew such an appointment),

(d) the fee payable to the Agency, which shall not exceed €1,000, which shall accompany an application for appointment or renewal of appointment as an inspector,

(e) the period for which an appointment as an inspector shall have effect,

(f) the circumstances in which the appointment of an inspector may be revoked,

(g) procedural matters in relation to the hearing and determination of appeals under subsection (4),

(h) any consequential or ancillary matters.]

70F.— (1) The Agency shall establish and maintain a register of inspectors for the purposes of this Part (in this section referred to as the ‘register of inspectors’).

(2) The register of inspectors shall be maintained in such form (including electronic form) as the Agency considers appropriate.

(3) The register of inspectors shall contain the name and contact details of each inspector and such other information as may be determined from time to time by the Agency.

(4) The register of inspectors shall be kept at the offices of the Agency, and shall be made available to each water services authority.]

70G.— (1) For the purposes of carrying out an inspection under section 70H, an inspector may—

(a) enter and inspect any premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system,

(b) inspect, examine or test the course or condition of a domestic waste water treatment system, including any fixture, fitting, appliance, plant, drain, service or process associated with the treatment system,

(c) monitor any domestic waste water which is contained in or discharged from a premises or domestic waste water treatment system,

(d) take samples of any substance or thing associated with or discharged to or from, a domestic waste water treatment system,

(e) take photographs,

(f) carry out surveys, take levels and measurements, make excavations, take samples and carry out examinations of the depth and nature of subsoil,

(g) require information regarding the maintenance, servicing or operation of a domestic waste water treatment system from an owner or occupier of the premises or any person employed on the premises or any other person present on the premises,

(h) require the production of, or inspect, records or other documents (including records or documents stored in non-legible form) relevant to the maintenance, servicing or operation of a domestic waste water treatment system, or take copies of or extracts from, or take away if considered necessary for the purposes of inspection or examination, any such records or documents,

(i) require that the premises or any part of the premises or anything in the premises shall be left undisturbed for such period of time as may be necessary for carrying out the inspection.

(2) An inspector shall not, other than with the consent of the occupier, enter into a private dwelling under this section.

(3) The Agency or a water services authority may authorise any other person as it considers appropriate to accompany an inspector in the performance of his or her functions.

(4) Any certificate or other evidence given, or to be given, by an inspector in respect of any test, examination or analysis of any sample shall, in relation to that sample, be evidence, without further proof, of the result of the test, examination or analysis unless the contrary is shown.

(5) Any person who, following notification of an inspection by a water services authority—

(a) refuses to allow an inspector to enter any premises or to bring any person or equipment with him or her in the exercise of his or her powers,

(b) obstructs or impedes an inspector in the exercise of any of his or her powers,

(c) gives either to an inspector, a relevant water services authority or the Agency, information which is to his or her knowledge false or misleading in a material respect, or

(d) fails or refuses to comply with any reasonable request or requirement of an inspector,

commits an offence. ]

70H.— (1) (a) An inspector shall inspect such domestic waste water treatment systems as he or she is directed by the Agency, or a water services authority, to inspect.

(b) The Agency or a water services authority shall notify in writing the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system of a proposed inspection at least 10 working days before such inspection.

(2) When directing an inspector to carry out an inspection under subsection (1), the Agency or a water services authority shall have regard to the national inspection plan.

(3) Where, following an inspection under subsection (1), an inspector is of the opinion that—

(a) the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system has not contravened regulations made under section 70L, and

(b) the domestic waste water treatment system does not constitute, and is not likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment, and, in particular does not—

(i) create a risk to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals,

(ii) create a nuisance through noise or odours, or

(iii) adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest,

the inspector shall, within 21 days of the inspection, notify the owner of the premises to which the treatment system concerned is connected and the water services authority concerned.

(4) Where, following an inspection under subsection (1), an inspector is of the opinion that—

(a) the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system has contravened regulations made under section 70L, or

(b) the domestic waste water treatment system constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment, and, in particular—

(i) creates a risk to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals,

(ii) creates a nuisance through noise or odours, or

(iii) adversely affects the countryside or places of special interest,

the inspector shall immediately notify the owner of the premises to which the treatment system concerned is connected and shall, within 21 days of the inspection, notify the water services authority concerned, in each case stating the reasons for his or her opinion.

(5) A water services authority notified by an inspector under subsection (4) shall, within 21 days of that notification, issue a notice (in this Part referred to as an ‘advisory notice’) to the owner of the premises to which the treatment system concerned is connected.

(6) An advisory notice shall—

(a) state that the water services authority is of the opinion that—

(i) the owner of the premises connected to the domestic waste water treatment system has contravened regulations made under section 70L, or

(ii) the domestic waste water treatment system constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a risk to human health or the environment, and, in particular—

(I) creates a risk to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals,

(II) creates a nuisance through noise or odours, or

(III) adversely affects the countryside or places of special interest,

(b) state the reasons for that opinion,

(c) direct the owner of the premises to remedy the matters specified in the advisory notice by a date specified in the notice, and the notice may specify measures to be taken to remedy any contravention or matter to which the notice relates,

(d) include information regarding the making of an application under subsection (7),

(e) be signed and dated by an officer of the water services authority, and

(f) include any other requirement that the water services authority considers appropriate.

(7) (a) A person aggrieved by an advisory notice may, within 21 days of the date of such notice, apply to the water services authority concerned to have the domestic waste water treatment system inspected by an authorised person appointed by the water services authority.

(b) On receipt of an application under paragraph (a) in the prescribed form, accompanied by the prescribed fee, which shall not exceed €20, a water services authority shall arrange for an inspection of the domestic waste water treatment system by an authorised person appointed by the water services authority.

(c) An authorised person who carries out an inspection for the purposes of this subsection shall, within 10 days of the inspection by notice in writing to the person who made the application—

(i) confirm the advisory notice,

(ii) confirm the advisory notice subject to such modifications, alterations or additions as the authorised person considers appropriate, or

(iii) cancel the advisory notice.

(d) Where an advisory notice is confirmed under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of paragraph (c), the notice under paragraph (c) shall include information regarding the making of an appeal under subsection (9).

(e) Where an advisory notice is cancelled under paragraph (c) the water services authority concerned shall refund the application fee to the person who made the application.

(8) Where there is no application under subsection (7), the advisory notice shall take effect on the later of—

(a) the end of the period for making the application, or

(b) the day specified in the notice.

(9) A person aggrieved by an advisory notice confirmed under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of subsection (7)(c) may, within 14 days beginning on the day on which the notice is served on him or her, appeal against the notice to a judge of the District Court in the district court district in which the domestic waste water treatment system the subject of the notice is situated, on the following grounds:

(a) that the appellant is not the person on whom the notice should have been served; or

(b) any substantive or procedural illegality.

(10) In determining an appeal under subsection (9) the judge may, if he or she is satisfied that it is reasonable to do so, confirm, vary or cancel the notice.

(11) A person who appeals under subsection (9) shall at the same time notify the relevant water services authority of the appeal and the grounds for the appeal and that water services authority shall be entitled to appear, be heard and adduce evidence on the hearing of the appeal.

(12) Where an appeal under subsection (9) is taken, and the advisory notice is not cancelled, the notice shall take effect on the later of—

(a) 21 days after the day on which the notice is confirmed or varied on appeal or the appeal is withdrawn, or

(b) the day specified in the notice.

(13) Where an application has been made under subsection (7) and the advisory notice has not been cancelled and there is no appeal under subsection (9), the advisory notice shall take effect on the later of—

(a) the end of the period for making an appeal, or

(b) the day specified in the notice.

(14) A water services authority may, where no application under subsection (7) or no appeal under subsection (9) is made or pending, extend the period specified under subsection (6)(c).

(15) A person on whom an advisory notice has been served, who is of the opinion that the matters specified in the advisory notice have been remedied, shall within 10 days of completion of the remedial works, confirm in writing to the water services authority concerned that the matters specified in the advisory notice have been remedied.

(16) A water services authority shall, for the purposes of satisfying itself that the matters specified in an advisory notice have been remedied, carry out such further inspections of the system the subject of the advisory notice concerned, as the water services authority considers appropriate.

(17) Where a water services authority is satisfied that the matters specified in the advisory notice have been remedied, the water services authority shall notify the person on whom the advisory notice was served of such compliance.

(18) A person who contravenes a requirement of an advisory notice commits an offence. ]

70I.— (1) The Agency shall supervise a water services authority in the performance of such of its functions as the Agency considers appropriate.

(2) Where the Agency is of the opinion that a water services authority has failed to perform all or any of its functions, the Agency shall issue a direction to the water services authority concerned.

(3) The Agency may direct a water services authority to keep such records in relation to the performance of its functions and to submit to it, in such manner and at such times as the Agency may direct, such information as it may specify, and, in particular details in relation to—

(a) the registration of domestic waste water treatment systems within the functional area of the water services authority concerned,

(b) the inspection of domestic waste water treatment systems within the functional area of the water services authority concerned,

(c) advisory notices issued by the water services authority concerned, including details in relation to the confirmation, modification or cancellation of an advisory notice,

(d) notices of compliance made by the water services authority concerned under section 70H(17),

(e) appeals to the District Court under section 70H,

(f) prosecutions taken by the water services authority concerned under this Part, and

(g) such other matters as the Agency considers appropriate.

(4) The Agency shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained, such records of any supervision carried out under subsection (1) and such directions issued under subsection (2) as the Agency considers appropriate.

(5) A water services authority shall comply with a direction under this section.

(6) A water services authority that fails to comply with a direction under this section commits an offence.

(7) In this section, ‘functions’ means functions of a water services authority under this Part.]

70J.— (1) The Agency may, from time to time, issue directions to inspectors with regard to—

(a) the manner in which an inspection under section 70H is to be carried out,

(b) the period or periods to be specified in an advisory notice during which remedial works are to be carried out,

(c) the manner, including by electronic means, in which an inspector is to notify a water services authority in relation to an inspection,

(d) the details in respect of an inspection which are to be notified by an inspector to a water services authority, and

(e) any other matters the Agency considers relevant for the purposes of this Part.

(2) An inspector shall comply with a direction issued under subsection (1).]

70K.— F67[(1) The Agency shall, as soon as may be after the commencement of this section, but not later than 31 March 2013, make a national plan (in this Part referred to as ‘the national inspection plan’) with regard to the inspection and monitoring of domestic waste water treatment systems.]

(2) When making the national inspection plan, the Agency shall have regard to—

(a) relevant risks or potential risks to human health or the environment, and, in particular—

(i) risks to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals,

(ii) nuisances through noise or odours, and

(iii) risks to the countryside or places of special interest,

(b) relevant available information in relation to specific types and locations of domestic waste water treatment systems,

(c) appropriate and specific qualitative and quantitative criteria, targets and indicators for inspections, and

(d) any incidental or ancillary matters or such matters as may be prescribed by the Minister.

(3) The Agency shall from time to time as it thinks appropriate, and at least once in each period of 5 years after the date of making of the national inspection plan, review the plan and make such revisions thereto as it thinks fit and references in this Part to such a plan shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as including references to such a plan as so revised.

(4) The Agency shall furnish a copy of the national inspection plan to the Minister, each water services authority and such other person as may be prescribed.

(5) It shall be a function of each water services authority to take necessary measures to implement or otherwise give effect to the national inspection plan, including arranging for inspections under section 70H to be carried out within its functional area, as provided for in the plan. ]

70L.— (1) The Minister may, following consultation with the Agency, make regulations for the purposes of this Part, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the regulations may make provision for—

(a) maintenance plans for domestic waste water treatment systems,

(b) performance standards for domestic waste water treatment systems,

(c) standards and procedures to apply in relation to emptying a domestic waste water treatment system and the disposal of the waste water and sludge derived therefrom,

(d) such consequential or ancillary matters as the Minister considers appropriate.

(2) A person who contravenes a regulation made under this section commits an offence.]

70M.— (1) A person guilty of an offence under section 70B(12), 70C(2), 70E(10), 70G(5), 70H(18), or 70L(2) is liable, on summary conviction, to a class A fine.

(2) A water services authority guilty of an offence under section 70I(6) is liable on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €50,000. ]

71.— (1) In this Part—

“water supply meter” means a mechanical, electronic or other device for measuring volume or rate of flow of water, together with any ancillary equipment for the purposes of data collection or transmission;

“waste water discharge meter” means an electronic or other device for measuring volume or rate of discharge of waste water, together with any ancillary equipment for the purposes of data collection or transmission;

“meter” may be construed as a water supply meter or a waste water discharge meter as appropriate;

“water services authority” includes—

(a) an authorised provider of water services, and

(b) a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of—

(i) a water services authority, or

(ii) an authorised provider of water services.

72.— (1) Subject to any direction of the Minister under this Act—

(a) a water services authority may—

(i) supply water by measure,

(ii) meter or otherwise measure the volume of water supplied or the volume of waste water discharged,

(iii) subject to complying with other enactments in relation to charging for water services, charge a rent or otherwise recover from a consumer the costs incurred by it in respect of every meter or other instrument provided for measuring the water supplied to or the waste water discharged by that consumer,

(iv) require any consumer of water supplied by it to take such supply through a specified water supply meter,

(v) require any consumer of waste water services provided by it to discharge their waste water via a specified waste water discharge meter,

and

(b) a water services authority shall—

(i) keep every meter whether let by it for hire to a consumer or supplied free of charge, in proper order for measuring the supply of water or discharge of waste water, and in default of so doing, such consumer shall not be liable to pay rent as long as the default continues, and

(ii) have access to and be at liberty at all reasonable times to install, read, remove, examine, repair, replace or reinstall such meter.

(2) An owner of a meter shall, subject to the requirements of—

(a) the Metrology Acts 1980 to 1998,

(b) any relevant instrument made under those Acts, and

(c) any relevant regulations made under the European Communities Act 1972,

ensure that the meter is the correct type and size required for the accurate measurement of consumption or discharge, that is foreseen or foreseeable. For that purpose account shall be taken in particular of the operating conditions for the meter, including flowrate range, temperature range and relative pressure range of the water or waste water to be metered.

(3) Where, following testing pursuant to the Metrology Acts 1980 to 1998 or any relevant instrument or regulations specified in subsection (2), it is determined that a meter has failed to record correctly the volume of water supplied, or of waste water discharged, then a water services authority may estimate usage on the basis of historical data, and any amount of charges which are found to be outstanding on the basis of such estimate may be recovered by the water services authority from the person to whom the water services were provided.

(4) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister may make regulations in relation to the provision of a meter.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4), regulations under that subsection may provide for all or any of the following matters:

(a) responsibility of the consumer for the safe custody of a meter, and any piping or ancillary fittings belonging to a water services authority;

(b) rental of meters;

(c) taking of meter readings;

(d) estimation of usage on the basis of historical data;

(e) any incidental or ancillary matters.

(6) A person commits an offence if he or she—

(a) fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (1)(a)(iv) or (v),

(b) contravenes subsection (2), or

(c) contravenes a regulation made under subsection (4) which is stated to be a penal regulation.

73.— (1) For the purpose of the measurement of water usage or waste water discharge determined by a meter, the register of that meter shall be prima facie evidence of the volume supplied or discharged, as the case may be.

(2) F70[…]

74.— (1) A person who—

(a) removes, damages or causes the removal or damage, or otherwise impairs, or causes impairment of the proper working of a meter,

(b) alters or causes to be altered fraudulently a meter,

(c) prevents or causes to be prevented from being duly registered the volume of water or waste water supplied or discharged through a meter, or

(d) fraudulently bypasses or causes or permits the bypass of a meter provided for the purposes of measuring the volume of water or waste water supplied or discharged,

commits an offence.

(2) If in proceedings for an offence under paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1) it is alleged that the defendant prevented such meter from correctly recording the volume of water supplied to, or waste water discharged from, a premises, and it is proved that, during the period such prevention is alleged to have occurred or immediately thereafter—

(a) an artificial means for causing such prevention was present on the said premises or in the precincts thereof, and

(b) the defendant was in occupation of the premises,

such proof shall be prima facie evidence, in those proceedings, of the allegation.

(3) A person who, without lawful excuse, manufactures, imports, sells, offers for sale, supplies or has in his or her possession any thing designed or adapted to prevent a meter from correctly recording the volume of water supplied to or waste water discharged from a premises, commits an offence.

(4) (a) A consumer of water services who has reasonable grounds for believing that a meter to which this section applies is not duly registering a quantity of water being supplied to, or of waste water being discharged from, a premises by reason of the meter being unlawfully interfered with shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that such interference is discontinued.

(b) A person who fails to comply with paragraph (a) commits an offence.

(5) A water services authority may reinstate or repair any damage sustained to any of its property in the course of or arising from an offence under subsection (1) and recover any costs incurred from the person or persons guilty of the offence.

(6) Without prejudice to any other prosecution, or right to prosecute, where, in the opinion of a water services authority, there has been—

(a) an unauthorised taking of water supplies, or

(b) an unauthorised discharge of waste water to a waste water works, or

(c) any unauthorised interference with a meter,

whereby a greater volume of water than registered by a meter is supplied to a person through that meter, or a greater volume of waste water than registered is discharged by a person through that meter, the water services authority may estimate the unrecorded or unauthorised use or discharge and recover or arrange for the recovery of the cost of it from that person.

(7) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of subsection (6), setting out procedures and methodologies to be adopted to estimate the unrecorded or unauthorised use or discharge.

93.— (1) Subject to sections 95 and 96, a water services authority may acquire land for the purpose of performing any of its functions under this Act, and section 182 and Part XIV of the Act of 2000 shall apply to a water services authority as it applies to a local authority.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), “acquisition of land” under the Act of 2000 shall include any—

(a) dam, weir or construction which interferes with the proper drainage or supply of water F73[…], or the provision of water services by that water services authority,

(b) water, or right of access to water, or right to take or convey water,

(c) waterworks or part of a waterworks, or related accessories or right of access to them, or

(d) waste water works or part of a waste water works, or related accessories or right of access to them.

(3) A water services authority may do any other thing which arises out of or is consequential on or is necessary for the purposes of or would facilitate the performance of its functions under this section.

94.— The powers of a water services authority under section 93 or 97 shall also apply to any such acquisition or any such laying of pipes or related infrastructure, fixtures or fittings for the purpose of facilitating the provision of water services by—

(a) any authorised provider of water services, or

(b) a person providing water services jointly with or on behalf of—

(i) a water services authority, or

(ii) an authorised provider of water services.

95.— (1) A water services authority may by agreement take into public charge or acquire all or part of a waterworks or waste water works, or any rights connected to it, F74[…] where not fewer than two thirds of those persons entitled to dispose of it agree to such transfer.

(2) (a) Where a water services authority proposes to take into public charge all or part of the distribution network of a waterworks or the collection network of a waste water works, together with the accessories of the network concerned (in this section referred to as the “pipe network and accessories”) F74[…], and it cannot after reasonable enquiry establish the identity of those persons entitled to agree to such transfer, then the water services authority shall publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the area served by the waterworks or waste water works, and serve on the owner of every premises which appears to it to be connected to the pipe network and accessories in question, a notice which—

(i) describes the pipe network and accessories in question, including a description of the area it serves,

(ii) states the intention of the water services authority to take the pipe network and accessories into its charge,

(iii) names the place where a map of the pipe network and accessories in question is deposited and the times during which it may be inspected, and

(iv) specifies the manner and period within which (not being less than one month from the date of the notice) any person, claiming entitlement to agree to or disagree with such transfer, may register such a claim with the water services authority.

(b) Where no entitlement to agree to or disagree with the transfer referred to in paragraph (a) is claimed, or no claim to such entitlement is substantiated, then the water services authority shall hold a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the owners of the premises concerned in relation to the taking in charge of the pipe network and accessories by the water services authority.

(c) Where a simple majority of owners who vote in the plebiscite referred to in paragraph (b) indicate their agreement to the water services authority taking in charge the related pipe network and accessories, then the water services authority may by order declare such pipe network and accessories to be in its charge.

(d) Where a simple majority of the owners who vote in the plebiscite referred to in paragraph (b) indicate that they do not wish the water services authority to take in charge the related pipe network and accessories, then the water services authority may by order declare the pipe network and accessories to be a connection for the purposes of section 43.

(e) Where a claim of entitlement to agree to or disagree with the transfer referred to in paragraph (a) is substantiated and a consequential direction to the claimant under section 80 to apply for a licence under section 79 is annulled by the District Court, then the water services authority may declare the pipe network and accessories to be a connection for the purposes of section 43.

(3) F74[…]

(4) The Minister may make regulations in relation to the procedures and notification requirements necessary for the purposes of this section.

96.— Where a compulsory acquisition by way of compulsory purchase order is made in respect of a waterworks or waste water works, or part thereof, a duly appointed arbitrator shall, to the extent that it can reasonably be ascertained, in determining the amount of compensation payable, have regard to any grant or subsidy that has been paid or provided in respect of all or any part of the waterworks or waste water works.