ABSTRACT
Before 1989, the water authorities carried out all the functions in relation to water and sewerage on an integrated basis. After the Water Act 1989 (as consolidated), there is now a split in functions: the private water and sewerage undertakers provide the public water supply and own and operate the sewerage network and the sewage works, as well as regulating any discharges to the sewers; whereas the EA regulates abstractions from and discharges to the natural environment and has responsibility for surface water pollution.
