What’s new in private water supplies?
On this page are highlighted changes to the private water supplies section of the DWI website, as well as other updates related to private water supplies.
Such changes include new or amended guidance, tools and case studies.
Topic (new page, case study, research, statement, or update) | Date of publication | Link |
|---|---|---|
Drinking water 2024 – Private water supplies in England and Wales The Chief Inspector’s reports have been published | 20 May 2025 | |
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has been extended for 2025-26. Please contact your lead local authority or the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (UKSPFenquiries@communities.gov.uk) | 10 March 2025 | |
Statement: Northumberland County Council have prosecuted a private water supply owner for the second time for failing to comply with a regulation 18 notice. | 19 February 2025 | |
Update: the technical information notes on fees (regulation 21 in England and regulation 23 in Wales) have been updated. Schedule 5 (England) and schedule 6 (Wales) do not make provision to charge and cost recover the fee for analysing all parameters. | 17 February 2025 | |
New case study: Registration of private water supplies | 14 February 2025 | |
Update: the technical information notes on investigations (regulation 16 in England and regulation 18 in Wales) have been fully updated. The notes explain the purpose of an investigation, what actions it should include, when it must be undertaken, and actions a local authority must take as a result. | 12 February 2025 | |
New case study: Deficiencies in proactive risk assessment on a regulation 9 supply | 10 February 2025 | |
New case study: Purchasing a property served by a private water supply | 10 February 2025 | |
Update: the enforcement guidance has been updated to highlight the potential use of community protection notices in conjunction with section 80 [WIA 1991] in certain cases of insufficiency. Consultation should be sought with legal teams. | 7 February 2025 | |
Update: the enforcement flow diagram has been redrawn to improve visual clarity (content of the flow diagram unchanged). | 7 February 2025 | |
New case study: Hospital case revisited | 27 January 2025 | |
New case study: A public supply that switched to being a private water supply | 27 January 2025 | |
New page: registration of private water supplies. | 20 January 2025 | |
Update: new versions of regulation 8 (V2.08) and toilet flushing (V2.06) risk assessment tools published. Minor updates to allow for bespoke additional mitigation requirements. | 11 September 2024 | |
New research project published: Impact and future of the regulatory model and legislative framework surrounding private water supplies in England and Wales | 15 May 2024 | |
New case study: long standing discoloured water problems at Trecwn village – Pembrokeshire | 8 April 2024 | |
New page: a reference table has been created containing useful links for assessing drinking water quality issues. | 27 March 2024 | |
New guidance: this new guidance page covers actions for local authorities to take where temporary events with drinking water supplies are taking place. | 27 March 2024 | |
Update: regulation 8 guidance updated. The scope of regulation 8 has been clarified. Please refer to the information note page and the question and answer page. | 31 January 2024 | |
Update: regulation 6 guidance updated. The local authority is explicitly responsible for the risk assessment and actions taken as a result of it, regardless of contractor involvement. | 3 January 2024 | Information note on Regulation 6 (England) |