- Drinking Water 2025 – Summary of the Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in Wales
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Water supplies and testing
- Compliance with standards
- Learning from compliance failures
- Learning from events
- Consumer contacts
- Asset health
- Water safety planning and risk assessment
- Poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Audit programme
- Recommendations
- Enforcement
- Security and Emergency Measures Direction - SEMD
- Network and Information Systems - NIS
- Materials in contact with drinking water (Regulation 31)
- Research publications
- Whistleblowers
- Working with stakeholders
Working with stakeholders
The Inspectorate updated and published its Vision and Strategic Objectives 2025–30, setting out priorities for the next period and into the integrated regulator. The Inspectorate works with a wide range of external organisations, regulators, government departments, professional bodies and academic institutions in delivering its strategic objectives. Specific updates on collaborative work carried out by the Inspectorate in 2025 are provided below.
Figure 38 Water Industry stakeholders
Figure 55 – DWI Stakeholder engagement map
Water Reform
The Inspectorate is closely engaged in work to reform the sector and create a unitary regulator. It has worked, and will continue to work, with Defra, Welsh Government, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Natural England and Ofwat to deliver a reformed regulatory system that maintains public health protection at the core of drinking water supply regulation.
This aligns with the England report style by presenting reform activity in a neutral, factual and regulator-focused manner.
RAPID
This work sits alongside wider efforts to future-proof our water supplies. RAPID (Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) has recently published a series of explainers on the four types of infrastructure needed to meet future demand – reservoirs, water transfers, recycling schemes, and desalination – which together with water reuse paint a picture of a resilient water future for England and Wales.
The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development in Water (RAPID) was established to coordinate development and delivery of large-scale water resources infrastructure schemes, some of which will cross company boundaries, and improve resilience of supplies.
European regulators
The European Network of Drinking Water Regulators (ENDWARE) meets twice a year, hosted by rotating members, to discuss matters concerning drinking water quality. Topics include substances of emerging significance, and compliance with standards. Differing approaches to monitoring, analysis, and mitigation are shared for learning and awareness of best practice. Research findings may also be shared for awareness.
In 2025 the Inspectorate hosted the spring ENDWARE meeting on HMS Belfast in London and was joined by representatives from multiple countries.
Water Safe
The Inspectorate has a six-monthly liaison meeting with Water Safe and works collaboratively on campaigns. This year, we shared information about the illegal use of lead solder on drinking water supplies, and supported a publicity and education campaign for plumbers.