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Section 141DB: Monitoring quality of water potentially affected by discharges from storm overflows and sewage disposal works

Water Industry Act 1991 · 1991 c. 56View on legislation.gov.uk

Part IV: SEWERAGE SERVICES — CHAPTER 4: Storm overflows

A sewerage undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in England must continuously monitor the quality of water upstream and downstream of an asset within subsection (2) for the purpose of obtaining the information referred to in subsection (3).

The assets referred to in subsection (1) are—

a storm overflow of the sewerage undertaker, and
sewage disposal works comprised in the sewerage system of the sewerage undertaker,

where the storm overflow or works discharge into a watercourse.

The information referred to in subsection (1) is information as to the quality of the water by reference to—

levels of dissolved oxygen,
temperature and pH values,
turbidity,
levels of ammonia, and
anything else specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.

The duty of a sewerage undertaker under this section is enforceable under section 18 by—

the Secretary of State, or
the Authority, with the consent of or in accordance with a general authorisation given by the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State may by regulations make —

provision as how the duty under subsection (1) is to be carried out (for example, provision as to the type of monitor to be used and where monitors must be placed);
provision for exceptions from the duty in subsection (1) (for example, by reference to descriptions of asset, frequency of discharge from an asset or the level of risk to water quality);
provision for the publication by sewerage undertakers of information obtained pursuant to subsection (1).

Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

The Secretary of State may not make regulations under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the regulations has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.