Water Resources Act 1991

The Water Resources Act 1991 is the primary UK legislation governing the management of inland and groundwater resources, including abstraction licensing, pollution prevention and the protection of watercourses. The Act is enforced principally by the Environment Agency in England, with corresponding bodies in the devolved nations. While most domestic drainage situations are addressed through the Water Industry Act 1991, the Water Resources Act becomes relevant where surface water or trade effluent discharges from a property reach a controlled water such as a river, canal or coastal water. In Greater London, this can apply to certain SuDS outfalls, private treatment plants and historic riverside properties along the Thames and its tributaries. Practical implications for homeowners include the need for Environment Agency consent for any direct discharge to a watercourse. The formal reference is the Water Resources Act 1991 (c.57).