Defra consults on toilet specifications "to protect human health"

Defra has opened a consultation on proposed changes to water supply regulations including a proposed modification to toilet specifications “to protect human health.”

Defra has proposed:

• a new backflow prevention arrangement to prevent cistern water from re-entering the drinking water system; and

• a new test to ensure that water from the toilet pan cannot contaminate the water in the cistern.

It said the regulations are needed “to protect human health from contaminated drinking water. We need to update the specifications to reflect modern toilet designs.”

Defra is looking also to gather evidence on faulty toilet valves that cause a loss of water and to find measures to improve them.

The proposed changes to 11 specifications made under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 include amendments to rules to make them “consistent and clearer and focus on how a product must perform.”