The Thames Water Authority was one of ten regional water authorities created in the UK on 1 April 1974 under the provisions of the Water Act 1973 (c. 37) to bring together all the water management functions of the region in one public body. In 1989 the Thames Water Authority was partly privatised, under the provisions of the Water Act 1989 (c. 15) with the water and sewage responsibilities transferring to the newly established publicly quoted company of Thames Water, and the regulatory responsibilities transferring to the newly created National Rivers Authority.