Subject to paragraphs (2) to (8), the undertaker may use any watercourse or any public sewer or drain for the drainage of water in connection with the construction, operation or maintenance of the authorised development and for that purpose may lay down, take up and alter pipes and may, on any land within the Order limits, make openings into, and connections with, the watercourse, public sewer or drain.

Any dispute arising from the making of connections to or the use of a public sewer or drain by the undertaker pursuant to paragraph (1) is to be determined as if it were a dispute under section 106 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (right to communicate with public sewers) M1.

The undertaker must not discharge any water into any watercourse, public sewer or drain except with the consent of the person to whom it belongs; and such consent may be given subject to such terms and conditions as that person may reasonably impose.

Except as otherwise authorised under this Order, the undertaker must not, in carrying out or maintaining works, damage or interfere with the bed or banks of any watercourse forming part of a main river.

The undertaker must take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that any water discharged into a watercourse or public sewer or drain pursuant to this article is as free as may be practicable from gravel, soil or other solid substance, oil or matter in suspension.

This article does not authorise any water discharge activities or groundwater activities for which a licence is required pursuant to regulation 12(1)(b) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (requirement for an environmental permit) M2.