This order establishes the specific date upon which the Wessex Regional Flood Defence Committee assumes its statutory powers and administrative functions. The document is a formal legislative instrument issued by the United Kingdom government under the Water Act 1989. It serves to formalize the transition of flood defense responsibilities to the newly constituted regional committee, providing the legal framework necessary for regional water management operations.

Legal professionals and government archivists utilize this text as a primary source for verifying the timeline of administrative changes in UK water management. It is a highly specialized document intended for regulatory reference rather than general reading.