I. Technical Advice on Drinking Water Issues, Policies and Standards
The role of DWI in providing scientific and engineering advice to Ministers and officials of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and the National Assembly for Wales (NAW) on drinking water issues, policies and standards.
Involvement with National, European and International organisations and the development of standards and guidelines for drinking water quality and treatment.
General
The Inspectorate’s staff have wide-ranging experience and expertise in the scientific and engineering aspects of the provision of water supplies including treatment, distribution, sampling and analysis, and quality.
DWI provides technical advice to DETR and the NAW, on a wide range of drinking water issues. It also represents DETR, NAW and the Government generally on National, European and International organisations.
The Inspectorate’s advice is informed and underpinned by a substantial research programme on drinking water issues and associated matters.
Drinking Water Quality Regulations
The Inspectorate provided comprehensive advice on the transposition of the new EC Directive on the Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption (98/83/EC) into the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000, (the 2000 Regulations), which cover public supplies.
The 2000 Regulations include new and revised standards, the majority of which come into force on 25 December 2003, with a final standard for lead coming into force on 25 December 2013.
The 2000 Regulations also include a revised monitoring regime, which comes into force on 1 January 2004. They also contain some transitional provisions, which came into force on 1 January 2001.
These provisions require water companies to monitor against the standards for new parameters and the tighter standards for existing parameters, and to submit to the Inspectorate for approval programmes of work needed to ensure that the standards are met by the time they come into force.
The Inspectorate issued DWI Information Letter 25/2000 to provide water companies with advice on the transitional provisions. The Inspectorate is also preparing guidance to assist with the implementation of the remainder of the Regulations with a view to having it in place during 2001.
The Inspectorate’s advice is informed by its considerable experience during the last 11 years with the implementation and enforcement of the current Drinking Water Quality Regulations.
Private Water Supplies
One inspection of a local authority’s arrangements for implementing the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991, was conducted in 2000.
The Inspectorate is providing advice on the transposition of the new EC Directive 98/83/EC into new Regulations in respect of private water supplies and the associated guidance to assist local authorities with the implementation of the new Regulations.
The Inspectorate expects to publish a revised Manual on Treatment for Small Water Supply Systems during 2001.
The Inspectorate’s advice is informed by its experience in advising local authorities and users on private water supply regulation and quality, and its understanding of the technical issues.
Regulation of Consumers’ Installations
The Inspectorate provides advice on the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and the associated Guidance Document.
These regulations, designed to prevent waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination within consumers’ installations, came into force on 1 July 1999 and replaced the water companies’ byelaws.
The Inspectorate continues to provide advice to the Water Regulations Advisory Committee, water companies, manufacturers, trade organisations and consumers on the implementation of the regulations and the application of the Guidance Document, particularly on water conservation and the protection of water supplies from contamination.
Representation on National and International Organisations
Several of the Inspectorate’s staff are recognised national or international experts in the field of drinking water treatment, distribution, quality and regulation. They represent DETR, NAW or the Government on a wide range of National, European and International organisations and their committees.
The organisations on which the Inspectorate is represented include the following:
Water Regulations Advisory Committee
Standing Committee of Analysts
Public Health Laboratory Service Advisory Committee on Water and the Environment
British Standards Institution - several working groups
European Committee for Standardisation - several working groups
Informal Network of European Drinking Water Regulators
World Health Organization - rolling revision of its Guidelines on Drinking Water Quality
International Water Association - several committees
[ Previous ] [ Contents ] [ Next ]
| 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
Published 11 July 2001
Return to Publications and Reports 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