Byelaws have been in force in their present form since the passing of the 1945 Water Act (Section 17), which gave Local Authorities the power make and enforce byelaws for preventing Waste, Misuse, Undue Consumption, or Contamination of water supplied by them.
The Byelaws are similar in content throughout the country because they are based on a model which was produced by the Department of the Environment. Local Byelaws have to be approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment before they can become law, and as a result of this it is exceptional for Local Authorities to receive ministerial approval for byelaws which deviate from the model.
Water Byelaws in England and Wales are made under Section 17 of the Water Act 1945 and Section 36 (3) of the 1973 Act for prevention of Waste, Misuse, and Contamination of water supplied by the Undertaker.
| Made | 1st April 1999 |
| Laid before Parliament | 14th April 1999 |
| Coming into force | 1st July 1999 |
