Scottish water - a sustainable future?

On 1 April 2002, a new country-wide water authority, Scottish Water, was established under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002. Scottish Water replaced three regional water authorities (North, East and West) and, like its predecessors, is a non-departmental public body, an appointed quango. It is intended to provide efficient and effective delivery of water services across Scotland and also to be able to compete in a future liberalised market. The Act is the first part of an ambitious reform programme for Scottish water law, and this article will appraise the new Act and the new authority within that wider context.