Section 51A of the Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56) (“the 1991 Act”) provides that a water undertaker may agree with a person constructing or proposing to construct a water main or service pipe (“the developer”) that it will adopt the main or pipe under certain conditions. If such agreement cannot be reached, under section 51B either the undertaker or the developer may request that the Water Services Regulation Authority (“Ofwat”) require the undertaker to adopt the main or pipe. However, Ofwat may not require this if there is a contravention of prescribed statutory requirements imposed under section 74 of the 1991 Act.