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.