DWI backs tighter regulations to avoid complacency

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has called for regulations to be updated to ensure water companies do not become complacent about the quality of the UK’s potable water.

Writing to water minister Rebecca Pow, DWI chief inspector Marcus Rink calls for Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 to be revised to ensure the UK maintains its high levels of drinking water quality.

In particular, Rink says tighter regulations would help address “the potential impacts on drinking water of PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances), endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, microplastics and increasing use of nickel, as well as the known impacts of legacy lead pipework in buildings and use of lead solder”.

He adds: “There is a need to consider water supply innovations together with water resource solutions, such as recycling and grey water use which the current regulations do not fully consider.”

Rink’s letter coincides with the publication of the DWI’s annual report which also urges water companies not to be complacent and to invest in infrastructure to deliver quality water for future generations in the face of climate change.

The report concludes that drinking water quality in England remains among the highest standards in the world. However, the regulator warns that rising levels of microparticles in supplies is a threat to that status.

The annual report also warns of the impacts climate change can bring to water sources. It says drought, prolonged periods of dryness, floods and heavy rain can affect resources by degrading the chemical and biological composition of the catchment and source water through pollutant concentration, increasing the risk to water treatment.

The DWI adds that risks include algae, metals, turbidity and novel pollutants, which have impacted the ability of treatment works in England to treat and supply water.

The report also calls on companies to assess catchment risks to identify necessary mitigations for the short and long-term to ensure infrastructure remains fit for purpose.

Rink added: “We cannot stand still, be complacent, or assume drinking water remains of such high quality that no investment above base expenditure or no action is required, because this will result in our failure to protect public health and we consequently won’t be in the top six countries in the world for drinking water quality.”

Discolouration remains the most common cause of customer contacts with their water company about quality issues. The DWI said significant investment is needed to remove metals more effectively and to replace old mains that may cause the sediment issues leading to discolouration.