General

The Inspectorate’s staff have wideranging experience and expertise in the scientific and engineering aspects of drinking water supplies, including treatment, distribution, sampling and analysis, and other qualityrelated matters.

This enables the Inspectorate to provide technical advice to the policy divisions of Defra and the Assembly Government on a wide range of drinking water issues. It also enables the Inspectorate to represent Defra, the Assembly Government and the Government generally on national, European and international organisations.

The Inspectorate’s advice is informed and underpinned by its initiation and management of a substantial research programme on drinking water issues and associated matters.

Private water supplies and public buildings

The Inspectorate is providing advice on the transposition of the EC Drinking Water 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. A consultation document will be issued during 2004.

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.

The Inspectorate is also providing advice on the transposition of the EC Drinking Water Directive in respect of Article 6.2, which states that Member States shall have fulfilled their obligations in respect of drinking water quality where noncompliance is due to the domestic distribution system or its maintenance except in premises and establishments where water is supplied to the public, such as schools, hospitals and restaurants. A consultation document is also likely to be issued in 2004.

Regulation of consumers’ installations

The Inspectorate provides technical advice to policy divisions, and represents policy divisions of Defra and the Assembly Government, on matters associated with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. It also provides advice on issues of protection against contamination of water supplied and of water conservation.

The Inspectorate has a particular interest in the protection of the public water supply system against contamination by backflow from consumers and other installations.

The Inspectorate provides advice to water companies, manufacturers, trade organisations and consumers on the implementation of the Water Fittings Regulations, the Guidance Document, and other associated issues.

The Water Act 2003 and competition within the water industry

The Water Act 2003 received Royal Assent on 20 November 2003. The Act amends the Water Industry Act 1991 and has four broad aims, namely the sustainable use of water resources; strengthening the voice of consumers; a measured increase in competition; and the promotion of water conservation. During 2003 the Inspectorate continued to provide technical advice on issues relating to drinking water quality to the Defra policy division with lead responsibility for the new Bill, particularly in respect of competition matters.

The new Bill also amends those sections of Water Industry Act 1991 relating to fluoridation. As a consequence of this, the Inspectorate has provided technical advice to both Defra and the Department of Health on the operational feasibility of dosing fluoridation chemicals.

The Inspectorate also continued to provide technical advice to the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) on water quality issues relating to competition in the water industry and the use of common carriage.

Security matters

During 2003 the Inspectorate again had considerable involvement with other Government Departments, providing technical advice on issues associated with maintaining the supply of safe drinking water. The Inspectorate has been in regular contact with nonGovernment bodies and research organisations in this country and overseas to ensure that it is up to date with current technology and relevant research.

The Inspectorate has also been involved in a number of groups to ensure the relevance of operational protocols within the water industry and members of its staff have taken part in a number of exercises designed to test emergency responses.

Representation on national and international organisations

Several of the Inspectorate’s staff are recognised as national or international experts in the field of drinking water treatment, distribution, quality and regulation. They represent Defra, the Assembly Government and 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:

• Standing Committee of Analysts
• Health Protection Agency Advisory Committee on Water and the Environment
• British Standards Institution – several working groups
• European Committee for Standardisation – several working groups
• European Network of Drinking Water Regulators
• European Microbiology Advisory Group
• International Water Association – several committees
• OECD Biotechnology and Health Activities Group
• EPSRC Water Research Management Group
• DG Enterprise Regulatory Group Construction Products – Drinking water
• CIRIA Water Engineering Advisory Panel

A full list of the working groups and committees on which the Inspectorate serves is given on its website.