Drinking Water Regulations 2016

Overview

This consultation seeks views on draft regulations which revoke and replace the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (as amended) and the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 (as amended). We intend to lay the draft regulations in spring/summer 2016.

The legislation is being updated primarily to transpose the monitoring requirements of the Euratom Directive (Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom of 22 October 2013) which provides for more efficient monitoring for radioactive substances, in particular radon. We are also taking the opportunity to clarify and consolidate the content from the existing regulations and to make minor amendments so that the regulations are more readily understandable. This is in keeping with the Government’s commitment to better regulation.

The main points to note are:

• Application of new monitoring requirements for radioactive substances as laid down in Directive 2013/51/EURATOM.
• For public water supply; the introduction of two changes, one to reduce the waiting time relating to the use of new sources of water and one to clarify requirements concerning data storage.
• Bringing new private water supplies into the monitoring regime.
• Additional wording and numbering changes to improve clarity where the Drinking Water Directive (Council Directive 98/83/EC) has been transposed.
• Changes to improve clarity of the regulations for water companies and local authorities.

The consultation will be of interest to those concerned with public and/or private supplies of drinking water. We encourage you to share this consultation widely with other individuals and organisations who may be interested in the draft legislation.

The consultation questions are listed in the consultation document and in the online survey. Please read the consultation document and click on the 'respond to the consultation' link below to take part in the online survey. The on line survey provides for responses to the questions for either or both draft regulations. Alternatively, you can get in touch by email with your response or any queries at:

drinkingwaterquality@defra.gsi.gov.uk

What happens next

The consultation will run for 6 weeks. Views and evidence provided during this consultation will help inform the final drafts for the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations and the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations, before they are laid in spring/summer 2016.

The government will provide an official response to the views provided, after the consultation ends.