Information Letter

Information Letter 15/2005

10 October 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

DISTRIBUTION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE STRATEGIES (DOMS) - UPDATE TO DWI REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

1. The purpose of this Information Letter is to update companies on DWI requirements and expectations for the preparation and implementation of strategies for the pro-active management of drinking water distribution systems, so that water companies meet and continue to meet drinking water quality standards.
   
   
2. Information Letter 15/2002 set out the key actions required of companies. Companies were advised that they were required to review the functioning of the DOMS, taking account of feedback on its effectiveness, the interaction between its components, and incorporate improved knowledge and methods by 31 December 2005.
   
   
3. In October 2004 DWI supported an UKWIR project to review industry experience of DOMS to identify common areas of further work to improve the strategies to ensure the optimum balance between investment and delivery of results. The project will also identify areas for development in the overall DOMS approach and look at the cost effectiveness of the approach. This project is planned to deliver recommendations and guidelines by 31 March 2006.
   
   
4. DWI wishes to provide companies the opportunity to incorporate the recommendations from the project into any future revisions of their DOMS. Consequently, and following discussions with water companies, we advise that the timing of the requirement of IL 15/2002 to submit updated DOMS documentation by 31 December 2005 is revised to 30 June 2006.
   
   
5. Enquiries about this letter should be addressed to Milo Purcell (milo.purcell@defra.gsi.gov.uk) or Laura Moss (laura.moss@defra.gsi.gov.uk).
   
   
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. This letter may be freely copied.
   
   
7. 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 CCWater Committees; Rowena Tye and Tony Smith, Office of Water Services.
   
   

Yours faithfully

Milo Purcell
Deputy Chief Inspector
Drinking Water Inspectorate