Press Notice 0103
15 February 2000Drinking Water Inspectorate:
water industry competition - no compromise on water qualityThe quality of drinking water must not be compromised by the introduction of the Competition Act on 1 March 2000, Michael Rouse, Chief Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, said today.
Launching guidance to existing water suppliers and to potential new entrants on 'Common Carriage' water quality issues, Michael Rouse said:
"The drinking water in England and Wales is of a very high quality, and the guidance issued by the DWI today aims to maintain that high quality."Providing our guidance is followed, I do not foresee any significant water quality problems arising from common carriage. Consumers can be confident that their water quality will not be impaired."
The key messages in the guidance are:
- water quality considerations must be carefully evaluated when introducing a new source of supply. These steps are no different from those which are applied by well-managed water companies in non-common carriage situations,
- the majority of new water supplies will be able to be accommodated without water quality problems. However some new water sources will be wholly incompatible with current suppliers' water sources. Mixing such incompatible sources must be avoided, as it would result in serious water quality problems,
- the incumbent undertaker must retain full hydraulic control of all inputs to the distribution system. It is essential to control flows and pressures to avoid water quality incidents,
- the legal status of a new entrant to the market is not a matter for DWI. A new entrant that has been classified as a water undertaker in the supply area, as now, will be regulated directly by DWI,
- a new entrant that is not classified as an undertaker will be a 'contractor' to the incumbent undertaker, the owner of the distribution system. The incumbent undertaker will have sole responsibility for all regulatory matters and should any case arise where water unfit for human consumption is supplied, it is the incumbent undertaker who will be liable for prosecution.
Notes to editors
1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) commenced operation on 2 January 1990. Its main role is to check that the water companies in England and Wales supply wholesome water and comply with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations. The overall quality of drinking water has improved tremendously since its set up.
2. 'Common Carriage', in terms of the water industry, means the introduction of raw or treated water by a new entrant using an existing supplier's water carriage system.
3. Every year, the DWI assesses the results of about 3 million drinking water tests carried out by water companies.
4. A copy of the DWI guidance on common carriage is available on the DWI Web Site.
| A - Z Index | Business and Technical | Consumer Information | Contacting us |
| DWI Home Page | News | Product Approval | Search our site | Wales |
Drinking Water Inspectorate,
Floor 2/A1, Ashdown House,
123 Victoria Street,
London, SW1E 6DE
Telephone : 020 7944 5956
Facsimile : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi_enquiries@detr.gov.uk
Updated 11 July 2001
Return to Press Releases Index
Return to Drinking Water Inspectorate Home Page
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)Home Page
The National Assembly for Wales / Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru Home Page
Web site terms
© Crown copyright 2001