Water Industry Act 1991

96L Sections 96B to 96K, 96M and 96N: interpretation

(1) This section applies for the purposes of sections 96B to 96K, 96M and 96N. (2) In those sections (and this section)— “associated catchment area”— in relation to a plant that is a nitrogen significant plant or is exempt in relation to the nitrogen nutrient pollution standard, means the nitrogen sensitive catchment area into which it discharges; in relation to a plant that is a phosphorus significant plant or is exempt in relation to the phosphorus nutrient pollution standard, means the phosphorus sensitive catchment area into which it discharges; “catchment permitting area” means a sensitive catchment area designated under section 96G(1) for the time being; “environmental permit” means a permit granted under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016; and a reference to a condition imposed on such a permit is to be construed in accordance with those regulations; “environmental permitting regulations” means— the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154) (as they have effect from time to time), or any other provision made after the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 is passed that is, or could have been, made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999; “exempt plant”, in relation to a nutrient pollution standard, has the meaning given by section 96D; “habitats site” means a European site within the meaning of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1012) (see regulation 8); “the initial period” has the meaning given by section 96E(4); “nitrogen nutrient pollution standard”, in relation to references to a nitrogen significant plant meeting the standard, has the meaning given by section 96F(1); “nitrogen sensitive catchment area” means an area designated under section 96C(1); “nitrogen significant plant” has the meaning given by section 96B(3); “nutrient pollution standard” means the nitrogen nutrient pollution standard or the phosphorus nutrient pollution standard; “nutrient significant plant” means— a nitrogen significant plant, or a phosphorus significant plant; “phosphorus nutrient pollution standard”, in relation to references to a phosphorus significant plant meeting the standard, has the meaning given by section 96F(2); “phosphorus sensitive catchment area” means an area designated under section 96C(2); “phosphorus significant plant” has the meaning given by section 96B(4); “plant” means a sewage disposal works; “related nutrient pollution standard”, in relation to a sensitive catchment area or a plant, means— if (or so far as) the area is a nitrogen sensitive catchment area or the plant is a nitrogen significant plant, the nitrogen nutrient pollution standard; if (or so far as) the area is a phosphorus sensitive catchment area or the plant is a phosphorus significant plant, the phosphorus nutrient pollution standard; “sensitive catchment area” means— a nitrogen sensitive catchment area, or a phosphorus sensitive catchment area; “standard concentration”, in relation to the nutrient pollution standard that applies to a plant, means the concentration specified in section 96F(1)(a)(i) or (2)(a)(i) on the date that the designation of the associated catchment area as a sensitive catchment area takes effect; “treated effluent” has the meaning given by section 96F(3); “upgrade date”, in relation to a plant that discharges into a sensitive catchment area, has the meaning given by section 96E. (3) References to a plant discharging into a sensitive catchment area are to the plant discharging treated effluent into the area. (4) References to the sewerage system of a sewerage undertaker have the meaning given by section 17BA(7).