Information Letter

Information Letter 14/05

20 September 2005

To: Board Level and Day to Day Contacts of Water and Sewerage Companies and Water Companies in England and Wales

Dear Sir or Madam

LIST OF WATER TREATMENT WORKS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

Background

1. The Water Act 2003, which amends the Water Industry Act 1991 (the Act), includes provisions to increase the opportunities for competition in the supply of water services. One of these provisions is to allow a holder of a water supply licence to have access to a water undertaker’s supply system in order to supply water to a customer’s eligible premises.
   
   
2. Section 17B(5) of the Act defines a water undertaker’s supply system for the purposes of the new licensing arrangements. In terms of potable water supplies, the supply system is defined as any water mains or other pipes used for the purposes of conveying water from the undertaker’s treatment works to a customer’s premises. The Secretary of State is required to designate such treatment works, after consultation with the national Assembly for Wales, and to publish a list of works from time to time. The list may then be used to define the extent of the undertaker’s supply system for the purposes of the licensing regime.
   
   
3. The Inspectorate, acting by the authority of the Secretary of State, has prepared a list of water treatment facilities in accordance with the requirements of the Act. However, given the current climate, we have been advised not to give specific locations. We have therefore complied a list based on the dedicated compliance reference code for each water treatment works. The list is based on the new Consumer Council for Water regions and will be updated annually on or before 31 March.
   
   

Purpose

4. The purpose of this letter is to share the list with the industry and potential water supply licensees. The list will also be available as a stand alone document on the DWI website (www.dwi.gov.uk ). Potential licensees requiring more detailed information should approach the water undertaker for the area of interest or contact the Inspectorate.
   
   

Enquiries

5. Copies of this letter are being sent to Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive, Water UK; Richard Wood, Water Supply and Regulation Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; June Milligan, Environment Division, Welsh Assembly Government; Colin McLaren, Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland; Randal Scott, Drinking Water Inspectorate for Northern Ireland; Chairs of the Regional WaterVoice Committees; Rowena Tye and Tony Smith, Office of Water Services; Tony Warn, Environment Agency; Nigel Harrison, Food Standards Agency; and Gary Coleman at the Health Protection Agency.
   
   
6. This letter is being sent electronically to Board Level and day to day contacts. Please acknowledge receipt by email to dwi.informationletters@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Hard copies are not being sent but the letter may be freely copied. Any enquiries about the letter should be addressed directly to me.

Yours sincerely

Dr John Gray
Deputy Chief Inspector (Operations)

ATTACHMENTS

List of Water Treatment Works in England and Wales (March 2006)    (Adobe format 279KB)

Drinking Water Inspectorate

55 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2EY
Telephone : 020 7270 3370

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