J. Products and Processes in the Provision of Water Supplies
Regulations 25-28 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 provide for the approval of substances, products and processes used in the provision of public water supplies. Approvals are issued by the Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and The National Assembly for Wales (NAW) (collectively referred to as the Authorities). The Committee on Products and Processes advises the Authorities on approval issues for Use in Public Water Supply (the Committee).
The Committee is an advisory non-departmental public body. It consists of a Chairman and five members with expertise in engineering, materials science, toxicology, and water treatment. An independent member represents water consumers’ interests. The Inspectorate provides technical and administrative support to the Committee.
Following devolution in Scotland, the Committee assumed the status of a jointly established body (JEB). The effect of JEB status is that DETR, NAW and the Scottish Executive consult over the administration of the Committee and the outputs from the Committee are sent to both administrations.
The statutory approvals scheme
The purpose of the approval scheme is to ensure that chemicals and construction materials do not cause adverse effects on water quality. Products are recommended for approval if they are considered to be unobjectionable on health grounds, in the light of the best available evidence at the time. Approval is given solely for the purposes of Regulation 25 and does not imply any recommendation as to the technical merits of products.
Approvals issued in 2000
The Committee met on six occasions in 2000. The Authorities approved 40 products, but two products were refused approval. The Authorities also approved the modification of conditions to 15 currently listed products. During 2000 the Technical Secretariat handled 1060 inquiries. All were answered promptly, in line with the standards set in the DWI Code for Enforcement and the Committee's charter.
The List of Approved Products
The Secretary of State's list of approved products contains all the currently approved products that may be used in public water supply. The list is posted on the DWI web site address: http://www.dwi.detr.gov.uk/cpp/index.htm
The listed products were approved under regulation 25(1)(a) between 1 September 1989 and 31 December 2000, or were approved under the former voluntary arrangements. This list now includes only those products that are not the subject of an European Standard (BS:EN) for drinking water treatment chemicals. Products that are the subject of a BS:EN are not listed, as these may be used without the approval of Government Authorities, providing that the national conditions of use are observed (see impact of European standards below).
Biocidal Products Regulations
DWI contributed to the interdepartmental meetings on the Biocidal Products Directive. This Directive was implemented in UK law in May 2000 as the Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR). All disinfectants, including those previously considered by the Committee for regulatory approval and those considered under the voluntary approval scheme for swimming pool chemicals, now fall within scope of the BPR.
The voluntary approvals system
In addition to the statutory approvals system, the Committee also operated a non-statutory, voluntary approval scheme. The voluntary approval scheme considered chemicals used in swimming pool water treatment. The scheme was discontinued in 2000. The disinfectants used in swimming pools now fall within scope of the BPR. Following a review of all swimming pool approvals in 2000, DWI initiated a programme of work that will lead to the development of European and/or national standards for swimming pool chemicals. All chemicals used in drinking water membrane and desalination processes are now considered under the statutory approval scheme, unless a European Standard is available.
Change in name of committee
The remit of the Committee has changed. This has led to the change in the name of the Committee to the "Committee on Products and Processes for Use in Public Water Supply".
Impact of European standards
The removal of technical barriers to trade is a major objective of the European Union's single market programme. Harmonised standards are being developed by the European Standards Institution (CEN) under European Union legislation. An objective of these standards is to remove technical barriers to trade resulting from national testing and checking requirements. Water treatment chemicals that conform to a BS:EN may be used without the approval of the Authorities, provided that any national conditions of use are observed.
Copies of BS:EN can be obtained from: BSI Customer Services, BSI, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL (Telephone: 0208 996 7000, Fax: 0208 996 7001).
In 1999 the European Commission established the Regulatory Group - Construction Products Drinking Water. The RG-CPDW is responsible for the development of an European Acceptance Scheme for construction products used in contact with drinking water. A five-year development programme is anticipated and this should lead to the establishment, by 2005, of harmonised European arrangements for testing and certification of construction products that are used in contact with drinking water.
The Committee has continued to make an active input to the process of developing European standards for drinking water treatment chemicals. The Technical Secretary attended the meetings of CEN/TC164/WG9 in October and December 2000 to present UK proposals for the review of published European standards to take account of the revised standards in the new Drinking Water Directive.
Designated laboratories
During 2000 LGC (Teddington) Ltd and The Water Quality Centre, Reading continued their role as designated laboratories for analysis associated with applications for approval.
Review of Regulatory Changes in 2000
Polyamine flocculants
The interim conclusions and implementation of new conditions of approval to control exposure to 3-monochloro-propane 1,2-diol (3-MCPD) were announced in Regulation 25 Letter 2/2000. Because the new conditions of approval will affect the marketing of products that are the subject of a European standard, the UK has notified the European Commission, as required by Directive 98/34/EC on the notification of new technical requirements. No objections have been received concerning that notification.
The Committee also commissioned a study on the mutagenicity of 3-MCPD. The Department of Health Committee on Mutagenicity and Committee on Carcinogenicity considered the results of that study, which became available in 2000. Both Committees advised that 3-MCPD was not a genotoxic carcinogen. Nevertheless, the Committee has recommended that the restrictions imposed by Regulation 25 Letter 2/2000 be maintained.
Epoxy Resins
The Committee reviewed the conditions of approval for epoxy resins applied in-situ to water supply pipes and water retaining structures in 1999. Formal notice of the intention to vary conditions of approval was issued in May 2000. The new conditions of approval, which come in to force on 1 December 2001, impose a stricter tolerance in the resin to hardener mix ratio of + 5%. The new conditions of approval will confirm also the minimum cure period of 16 hours.
Epoxy lining - Operational Guidelines and Code of Practice (OG/CP)
During the year DWI contributed towards updating the WRc approved guidance, the OG/CP, incorporating DWI regulatory requirements and Water UK members' contractual requirements, for the application of epoxy lining to water mains. Updating has incorporated the requirements for tightening the resin:hardener mix ratio and also includes new water industry requirements for the training and accreditation of contractors.
Use of organo-lead stabilisers in PVC-U water supply pipes
The Committee reviewed the approval of PVC-U water supply pipes in 2000 and subsequently recommended the revocation of approval of all pipes containing lead-based compounds. Formal notice, as required by regulation 25(6), of the intention to revoke the approval of PVC-U water supply pipes that contain lead-based compounds, was given in May 2000 via regulation 25 Letter 7/2000.
Traditional use exemption
DWI Information Letter 11/96 gave notice of the intention to prohibit unapproved uses of materials in contact with water in water supply pipes, service reservoirs and water towers. The prohibition became effective on 1 October 2000 and removed the traditional use exemption previously provided by Regulation 25(1)c. Regulation 25 Letter 6/2000 confirmed the details of the new arrangements for authorising the civil engineering uses of concrete in contact with drinking water.
Rapid-setting polymeric linings
The conditions of approval for in-situ application of polymeric coatings to water pipes require contractors to carry out a supervised lining trial as part of the approval process. From 2000, contractors must first obtain approval through Warren Associates (Pipelines) Ltd for lining trials of situ rapid-setting polymeric linings.
Review of products based on activated carbon
The stricter standards for lead, nickel, arsenic and copper in the new Drinking Water Directive prompted the Committee to commission a study of the compliance of approved products with the requirements of the 1999 BS:EN for activated filtration media. The results of that study, which indicated a need for enhanced quality assurance in the production of activated carbon-based products were discussed with the water industry and its suppliers in March 2001.
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Published 11 July 2001
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