{{Infobox organization | name = Anglian Water Authority | logo = | type = Regional water authority | purpose = Water | predecessor = | founded = {{Start date|1974}} | founder = | dissolved = {{End date|1989}} | successor = Anglian Water (privatised) | location = Huntingdon, United Kingdom | region_served = East Anglia | key_people = | products = Drinking water, wastewater treatment | owner = UK Government }} The '''Anglian Water Authority''' was a British regional water authority that served the East Anglia region. It was formed in 1974 by virtue of the Water Act 1973 as one of the regional water authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1973/1359/pdfs/uksi_19731359_en.pdf|title=The Anglian Water Authority constitution order 1973|publisher=HM Government|access-date=8 February 2020|date=1 August 1973}}</ref>
It established its headquarters in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. The authority boundary was the pre-existing boundaries of the constituent river authorities whose total area made Anglian Water Authority the largest of the ten newly created Authorities. It was privatised in 1989, to create Anglian Water which took over many of its assets and responsibilities, the remainder being vested in the Environment Agency.
== History ==
=== Foundation through merger === Anglian Water Authority was created in 1974 by virtue of the Water Act 1973. It subsumed the roles and responsibilities of:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}} * East Suffolk and Norfolk River Authority * Essex River Authority{{efn|Except the part of the area of the Essex River Authority which was included in the area of the Thames Water Authority.}} * Great Ouse River Authority * Lincolnshire River Authority * Welland and Nene River Authority {{div col end}}
It also took over sewage treatment and sewerage responsibilities of all the local authorities in the area with the exception of:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Dunstable * Gainsborough * Glanford Brigg * Houghton Regis * Thurrock {{div col end}}
It also took over the water supply functions previously exercised by the following:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Ipswich Corporation Waterworks * Buckingham Corporation Waterworks * Norwich Corporation Waterworks {{div col end}} {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Bedfordshire Water Board * Bucks Water Board * Colchester and District Water Board * East Lincolnshire Water Board * Ely, Mildenhall and Newmarket Water Board * Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board * Kesteven Water Board * Lincoln and District Water Board * Mid-Northamptonshire Water Board * Nene and Ouse Water Board * North East Lincolnshire Water Board * North Lindsey Water Board * North-West Norfolk Water Board * South Lincolnshire Water Board * South Norfolk Water Board * West Suffolk Water Board * Wisbech and District Water Board {{div col end}}
Four private statutory water companies operated in the area of the water authority. In their supply areas, Anglian Water Authority provided sewage services only.
{{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Cambridge Water Company * East Anglian Water Company * Essex Water Company * Tendring Hundred Waterworks Company {{div col end}}
==== Predecessors ====
=====Ipswich Corporation Waterworks===== {{further|Ipswich Water Works Company}}
Ipswich Corporation Waterworks was established in 1892, taking over the existing private Ipswich Water Works Company by the Ipswich Corporation (Purchase of Water Works) Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. c. xciv).
The Ipswich Water Works Company had been founded in 1852, and gained statutory authority under the Ipswich Waterworks Act 1857 (20 & 21 Vict. c. xlvii).
{{anchor|Felixstowe and Walton Waterworks Act 1911|Felixstowe and District Water Order 1951|Felixstowe and District Water Order 1959}}
The '''{{visible anchor|Felixstowe and Walton Waterworks Company}}''' was incorporated by the '''{{visible anchor|Felixstowe and Walton Waterworks Act 1895}}''' (58 & 59 Vict. c. xiii). The '''{{visible anchor|Felixstowe and District Water Act 1931}}''' (21 & 22 Geo. 5. c. cv) renamed the company the '''{{visible anchor|Felixstowe and District Water Company}}'''. The company was absorbed into Ipswich Corporation Waterworks by the '''{{visible anchor|Ipswich Water (Felixstowe and District) Order 1967}}''' (SI 1967/530).
=====Buckingham Corporation Waterworks=====
=====Norwich Corporation Waterworks===== {{anchor|Norwich Water Act 1790|City of Norwich Waterworks (Amendment) Act 1853|City of Norwich Waterworks Act 1859|City of Norwich Waterworks Act 1876|City of Norwich Waterworks Act 1898|City of Norwich Waterworks Act 1904}}
The Norwich Corporation Waterworks was established when the Norwich Corporation Act 1920 (10 & 11 Geo. 5. c. xcv) transferred the undertaking of the private City of Norwich Waterworks Company to Norwich Corporation.
The '''{{visible anchor|City of Norwich Waterworks Company}}''' had been founded by the '''{{visible anchor|City of Norwich Waterworks Act 1850}}''' (13 & 14 Vict. c. lii).
=====Bedfordshire Water Board=====
The Bedfordshire Water Board was constituted by the '''{{visible anchor|Bedfordshire Water Board Order 1960}}''' (SI 1960/1473).
=====Bucks Water Board===== {{anchor|Bucks Water Order 1938|Bucks Water Order 1943}}
The Bucks Water Board was formed by the '''{{visible anchor|Bucks Water Act 1937}}''' (1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6. c. xcv) from the water undertakings of the rural district councils of Aylesbury, Buckingham Wing and Winslow.
The '''{{visible anchor|Bucks Water Board Act 1946}}''' (9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. xx) transferred the undertaking of the Chiltern Hills Spring Water Company into the Bucks Water Board.
The '''{{visible anchor|Bucks Water Board Act 1959}}''' (7 & 8 Eliz. 2. c. xxxii) added the '''{{visible anchor|Brackley Corporation Waterworks}}''', High Wycombe Corporation Waterworks, the Marlow Water Company, and the water undertakings of Bletchley Urban District Council, Newport Pagnell Urban District Council, Towcester Urban District Council, and Wycombe Urban District Council.
{{anchor|Chiltern Hills Spring Water Order 1876|Chiltern Hills Spring Water Order 1885|Chiltern Hills Spring Water Order 1943}} The '''{{visible anchor|Chiltern Hills Spring Water Company}}''' was incorporated by the '''{{visible anchor|Chiltern Hills Spring Water Act 1870}}''' (33 & 34 Vict. c. xxv).
{{anchor|High Wycombe Corporation Waterworks|Chepping Wycombe Corporation Waterworks}} The '''{{visible anchor|High Wycombe Waterworks, Baths, and Wash-houses Company}}''' was authorised to supply water by the '''{{visible anchor|High Wycombe Water Order 1874}}'''.
The '''{{visible anchor|Marlow Water Company}}''' was incorporated by the '''{{visible anchor|Marlow Water Act 1935}}''' (25 & 26 Geo. 5. c. xxiv), and took over the earlier Great Marlow Water Company.
{{anchor|Marlow Water Order 1902|Marlow Water (No. 2) Order 1902|Great Marlow Order 1931}} The '''{{visible anchor|Great Marlow Water Company}} Limited''' was authorised to supply water by the '''{{visible anchor|Marlow Water Order 1889}}'''.
=====Colchester and District Water Board=====
The Colchester and District Water Board was formed by the '''{{visible anchor|Colchester and District Water Board Order 1960}}''' (SI 1960/1187), from the Colchester Corporation Waterworks, and the water undertakings of the surrounding rural district councils.
{{anchor|Colchester Water Order 1957}} The '''{{visible anchor|Company of Proprietors of the Colchester Waterworks}}''' was incorporated by the '''{{visible anchor|Colchester Water Act 1808}}''' (48 Geo. 3. c. cxxxvii). It was dissolved and reincorporated as the '''{{visible anchor|Colchester Waterworks Company}}''' by the '''{{visible anchor|Colchester Waterworks Act 1879}}''' (42 & 43 Vict. c. cxxi). The waterworks were purchased by Colchester Corporation in 1880, and became '''{{visible anchor|Colchester Corporation Waterworks}}'''.
=====East Lincolnshire Water Board=====
The East Lincolnshire Water Board was created by the '''{{visible anchor|East Lincolnshire Water Board Order 1963}}''' (SI 1963/1159).
=====Ely, Mildenhall and Newmarket Water Board=====
The Ely, Mildenhall and Newmarket Water Board was established by the '''{{visible anchor|Ely, Mildenhall and Newmarket Water Board Order 1962}}''' (SI 1962/503).
=====Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board===== {{anchor|Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board Order 1951|Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board Order 1954|Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board (Ditchford Works) Order 1958}}
The Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board was formed by the '''{{visible anchor|Higham Ferrars and Rushden Water Board Act 1902}}''' (2 Edw. 7. c. xii) from the water undertaking of Rushden Urban District Council, to supply water to Higham Ferrers and Rushden.
The '''{{visible anchor|Higham Ferrers Water Company}}''' was authorised to supply water by the '''{{visible anchor|Higham Ferrers Water Act 1900}}''' (63 & 64 Vict. c. xxvii). However, before it was able to proceed with the works, the powers were transferred to the new water board.
=====Kesteven Water Board=====
The Kesteven Water Board was founded by the '''{{visible anchor|Kesteven Water Board Order 1961}}''' (SI 1961/2349). It took over the undertaking of Sleaford Urban District Council and the Grantham Waterworks Company. It had offices in Grantham, Lincolnshire.
{{anchor|Grantham Waterworks Act 1909|Grantham Waterworks Order 1958}} The '''{{visible anchor|Grantham Waterworks Company}}''' had been formed by the '''{{visible anchor|Grantham Waterworks Act 1873}}''' (36 & 37 Vict. c. iv).
=====Lincoln and District Water Board===== {{further|Lincoln Corporation Waterworks#New administration}}
The Lincoln and District Water Board was created by the '''{{visible anchor|Lincoln and District Water Board Order 1961}}''' (SI 1961/441). It took over the Lincoln Corporation Waterworks.
=====Mid-Northamptonshire Water Board===== {{anchor|Mid-Northamptonshire Water Board Order 1958}}
The Mid-Northamptonshire Water Board was formed by the '''{{visible anchor|Mid-Northamptonshire Water Board Order Confirmation (Special Procedure) Act 1949}}''' (12 & 13 Geo. 6 c. ix), confirming the '''{{visible anchor|Mid-Northamptonshire Water Board Order 1948}}'''. It was constituted from the Woodford Halse Water Company and part of the distribution network of the Corby (Northants) and District Water Company, as well as the water undertakings of the councils of Daventry, Kettering, Northampton, Burton Latimer, Corby, Desborough, Rothwell, Wellingborough, Brixworth, Market Harborough, and Uppingham.
=====Nene and Ouse Water Board=====
The Nene and Ouse Water Board was formed by the '''{{visible anchor|Nene and Ouse Water Board Order 1961}}''' (SI 1961/2328). It absorbed the '''{{visible anchor|Peterborough Corporation Waterworks}}'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peterboroughhiddenheritage.org/space4/heritage/Water-Works.html |title=Water works at Elton |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123231920/http://www.peterboroughhiddenheritage.org/space4/heritage/Water-Works.html |archivedate=2009-11-23 |website=Hidden Heritage |accessdate=19 December 2009}}</ref>
=====North East Lincolnshire Water Board===== {{anchor|Grimsby Cleethorpes and District Water Board (Weelsby Pumping Station) Order 1958|North East Lincolnshire Water Order 1960|North East Lincolnshire Water Order 1965|North East Lincolnshire Water Act 1969}}
The '''{{visible anchor|Grimsby Cleethorpes and District Water Board}}''' was created by the '''{{visible anchor|Grimsby Corporation (Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Water, &c.) Act 1937}}''' (1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6. c. xli), taking over the undertaking of the private Great Grimsby Waterworks Company Limited. It had offices in Town Hall Square, Grimsby.
The name was changed to North East Lincolnshire Water Board by the '''{{visible anchor|North East Lincolnshire Water Order 1959}}''' (SI 1959/358) with the addition of the undertakings of Caistor Rural District Council and Market Rasen Urban District Council.
The {{visible anchor|Great Grimsby Waterworks Company}} Limited had been incorporated in 1862, and authorised under the '''{{visible anchor|Great Grimsby Waterworks Act 1863}}''' (26 & 27 Vict. c. xxxv) to supply water to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
The '''{{visible anchor|North East Lincolnshire Water Company}}''' was incorporated by the '''{{visible anchor|North East Lincolnshire Water Act 1906}}''' (6 Edw. 7. c. xxxvi), replacing the {{visible anchor|Barton-upon-Humber Water Company}} Limited, which had been authorised to supply water by the '''{{visible anchor|Barton-upon-Humber Water Order 1897}}''', confirmed by the Water Orders Confirmation Act 1897 (60 & 61 Vict. c. clvi).
=====North Lindsey Water Board===== {{anchor|North Lindsey Water Order 1944}}
The North Lindsey Water Board was created by the '''{{visible anchor|North Lindsey Water Act 1934}}''' (24 & 25 Geo. 5 c. xci).
=====North-West Norfolk Water Board=====
The North-West Norfolk Water Board was formed by the '''{{visible anchor|North-West Norfolk Water Board Order 1969}}''' (SI 1969/104)
=====South Lincolnshire Water Board===== {{anchor|Stamford Water Act 1877|South Lincolnshire Water Board Order 1962|South Lincolnshire Water Board Order 1964}}
The South Lincolnshire Water Board was constituted by the '''{{visible anchor|South Lincolnshire Water Board Order 1962}}''' (SI 1962/840).
{{anchor|South Lincolnshire Water Act 1909|South Lincolnshire Water Act 1910}} The '''{{visible anchor|South Lincolnshire Water Company}}''' was incorporated by the '''{{visible anchor|South Lincolnshire Water Act 1906}}''' (6 Edw. 7. c. cxcvi).
{{anchor|Stamford Water Act 1877}} The '''{{visible anchor|Stamford Water Works Company}}''' was established by the '''{{visible anchor|Stamford Water Act 1837}}''' (7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. xx)
=====South Norfolk Water Board=====
The South Norfolk Water Board was constituted by the '''{{visible anchor|South Norfolk Water Board Order 1969}}''' (SI 1969/55).
=====West Suffolk Water Board=====
The West Suffolk Water Board was created by the '''{{visible anchor|West Suffolk Water Board Order 1963}}''' (SI 1963/1622).
=====Wisbech and District Water Board=====
The Wisbech and District Water Board was formed by the '''{{visible anchor|Wisbech and District Water Board Order 1950}}''' (SI 1950/1533).
=== Demise through privatisation === In 1989, the privatisation of the water industry in England and Wales saw the creation of Anglian Water who took over the water treatment and supply and sewerage and sewage disposal functions. All the remaining regulatory functions including flood control, water quality management, pollution control and water resource management were transferred to the newly created National Rivers Authority, which was subsequently subsumed into the new Environment Agency in 1996.
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Water supply and sanitation in England Category:Water management authorities in the United Kingdom Category:Public utilities established in 1974 Category:Government agencies disestablished in 1989 Category:1974 establishments in England Category:1989 disestablishments in England