The Water Regulations 2008 separate water information into two types:

• historical – information a person holds before the end of the grace period
• new or ongoing – information that comes into a person's possession after the grace period has expired.

Regulation 7.04 lists certain subcategories of water information and person categories. An organisation listed in these person categories and holding these data during the grace period gives them as historical information. You give historical information within a fortnight after the end of the grace period.

New information is the information that comes into your possession after the grace period. You give new information at various specified timeframes on an ongoing/continuing basis.