Water Act 1945

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The Water Act 1945 (8 & 9 Geo. VI c. 41) was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, introduced by the coalition government and intended to expand and support the national water supply.

It empowered the Minister of Health to acquire land and water rights, to protect water resources against misuse, pollution and waste, and to demand information and statistics from water users.

In 1944, there were over 1,000 water suppliers in England and Wales, with 26 suppling half the volume of water used. Another 97 supplied a further quarter, and the remainder was split between 900 small undertakings. The Act did not extend as far as allowing the nationalisation of these water suppliers, but it did give the Minister power to order individual suppliers to amalgamate.