Information Letter

DWI Information Letter 04/2006

10 February 2006

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

Dear Sir/Madam

REGULATION 31 OF THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2000 AND 2001: Annual List of Approved Products and Processes - December 2005

 The Annual List

1. Regulations 31-33 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 require that the Secretary of State issues in each year a list of approved products. This list includes approvals that have been granted or refused, approvals which have been revoked or modified, and details of any Prohibition Notices that may have been issued. The list is available on the DWI's website http://www.dwi.gov.uk/cpp/pagea.shtm and regular updates to the list, as well as background papers to key recommendations, are posted on the CPP website (http://www.dwi.gov.uk/cpp/index.shtm).
2. This letter draws to the water companies’ attention those products which have been removed from the list as detailed in Appendix 1. Members of the Committee agreed to the following guidance when dealing with de-listed products.

Arrangements for use of products that have been de-listed

3. When a water company considers replacing or renewing its stock of a previously approved chemical, it should check whether this chemical is now covered by a European standard (a list of current relevant BS EN is published in Appendix 2 of the List of Approved Products and Processes). If it is not covered by an appropriate BS EN, they should only use an approved/listed chemical.
4. If the product is no longer manufactured or has been discontinued, then water companies must seek an alternative approved/listed product. However, existing stock may be used until they are exhausted, provided the shelf-life has not been exceeded and no health risk implications identified.
5. If the approval of a product has lapsed or has been revoked, before it can be re-instated as an approved product, the manufacturer of this product must submit a fresh application and agree to a pre-approval audit (including factory visit and testing of samples). The product would be re-instated in the SoS List only after the application had been reviewed by Members of the CPP and any testing under Reg. 31 (4) (a) had been completed with satisfactory results.
6. In this latter case, water companies are advised to be proactive and plan for the future replacement as soon as practical. This should involve, if appropriate, consultation with the relevant DWI Inspector.

Copies and Enquiries

7. Any queries regarding this should be directed to Yamide Dagnet Sépho (Technical Secretary of the CPP) or John Ashworth (Inspector (Products & Processes)), Drinking Water Inspectorate, 55 Whitehall, Room G01, London SW1A 2EY (Telephone 020 7082 8013/8015, Fax No. 020 7082 8012) or should be sent to cpp@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
8. 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; Tony Smith and Chairs of the Regional Consumer Council for Water; Rowena Tye for Office of Water Services; Tony Warn, Environment Agency; Nigel Harrison, Food Standards Agency; and Gary Coleman at the Health Protection Agency.
   
9. 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 Jeni Colbourne.

Yours faithfully

Prof. Jeni Colbourne MBE
Chief Inspector
Drinking Water Inspectorate