Water Supply Regulations
In England and Wales, all drinking water is regulated by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (2001 in Wales). These regulations are enforced by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, part of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.
In Scotland, similar regulations are in place, known as The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 2000.
The water used by water utility companies is drawn from rivers, reservoirs and from various groundwater sources some of which may exposed to various sources of potential contamination. Any of these potentially damaging substances, which may appear in drinking water, are covered by European and domestic legislation, (which initial came into force in 1980, setting permissible levels concentrations of the substances in question. These range from absolute zero for potentially hazardous microbiological organisms such as faecal coliforms, through to varying levels of other contaminates posing a health risk or aesthetic significance.
Water companies around the country undertake risk assessments at all of their treatment works and strategic points of their networks, while the DWI’s research programme is dedicated to the identification any ongoing issues with regards to drinking water quality and related health issues.
All water supplied by the “undertaker” (which is a water utility, or any other individual or organisation involved in supplying a source of water for consumption) such as a festival organiser, Construction Company has to comply with the regulations.
Any equipment used in emergency or alternative water supply must comply with the regulations.
