DWI lists what it needs to continue to regulate world quality drinking water

A mandated laboratory for Regulation 31 compliance testing, and the independence and resources to secure sufficiently expert staff, are among “fundamental” requirements to ensure effective drinking water regulation in England and Wales.

That’s according to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), in its submission to the Cunliffe Commission, which was published last week as the Commission set out its interim findings. 

In a covering letter, chief inspector Marcus Rink listed the following as necessary to ensure drinking water in England and Wales remains amongst the most tightly regulated and best quality in the world: 

• “Independence of the drinking water regulator is a privilege which must be maintained. Its status and ability to be adequately resourced must be on par with other sector regulators. This includes sufficient autonomy for the Inspectorate to retain and recruit expertise at the necessary market value to continue to fulfil its regulatory remit across drinking water quality, physical and cyber security now and in the future.

• The drinking water regulator must be included as a statutory consultee to national planning frameworks that have an impact on water supplies and water quality.

• The drinking water regulator must be afforded the necessary regulatory tools to deliver its statutory obligations for sufficiency and resilience to support consumers secure access to high quality drinking water. Any third-party organisations involved in the production and supply of drinking water must be brought into statutory scope of the regulations.

• Mechanisms to ensure swift and effective updates to regulations are required. Following EU Exit, a risk has emerged that updates to drinking water regulations, which are necessary for public health protection, are overlooked or outweighed by short-term political goals and short-term financial costs. Regulations must continue to be based on scientific evidence, and not influenced by the emergence of disinformation and misinformation seen in recent years. 

• That a mandated laboratory testing service for testing products in contact with water, is re-established and safeguarded. This could be through a publicly supported laboratory service for such activities or through mandating the water industry provision of such service.”

The DWI was excepted from the Cunliffe Commission’s wider criticism of regulation. The interim findings called the DWI “highly effective” and noted the high quality of drinking water we enjoy in England and Wales.