The Water Authority Expenses (Limitation of Precepts) Order 1980
Section 46 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 empowers a water authority, in respect of each local land drainage district in the water authority area, to issue precepts to a county council or London borough council requiring payment of the amount of the land drainage expenses of the water authority apportioned under that Act in respect of any part of the local land drainage district which is within the council's area. Section 46(5) of the Act limits the aggregate amount for which such precepts may be issued for any one financial year (in the absence of special consent) to the amount calculated by multiplying the estimated penny rate product for the area of the council comprised within the relevant local land drainage district by such a number as may be specified by order. This order accordingly specifies 2.5 as the number for the purposes of section 46(5) of the Act.