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.