Water (Scotland) Act 1980

6Duty of authority to provide supply

(1)It shall be the duty of every water authority to provide a supply of wholesome water to every part of their limits of supply where a supply of water is required for domestic purposes and can be provided at a reasonable cost.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), every water authority shall provide a supply of wholesome water in pipes to every part of their limits of supply where a supply of water is required for domestic purposes and shall take the pipes affording that supply to such point or points as will enable the buildings for which a supply is required for domestic purposes to be connected thereto at a reasonable cost; but this subsection shall not require a water authority to do anything which is not practicable at a reasonable cost or to provide such a supply to any part of their limits of supply where such a supply is already available at such point or points.

(3)If any question arises under this section as to—

(a)whether a supply of water can be provided at a reason able cost, or

(b)whether anything is or is not practicable at a reasonable cost, or

(c)the point or points to which pipes must be taken in order to enable buildings to be connected therewith at a reasonable cost,

the Secretary of State, if requested to do so by 10 or more local government electors in the limits of supply of the water authority, shall, after consulting the authority, determine that question and the authority shall give effect to his determination.

(4)Every water authority shall also provide a supply of water for the purpose of complying with any other obligation imposed on them by this Act and may, if they think fit, provide a supply to enable them to exercise any of the powers conferred on them by this Act or for any other purpose which they consider is in the interests of the area comprising their limits of supply.