Ministers update Security and Emergency Measures Direction

Ministers in the UK and Welsh Governments have updated their Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) to water and sewerage undertakers and water supply licensees – a ministerial direction which sets the outcomes needed to protect national security and mitigate the effects of any civil emergency.

The 2022 SEMD remains in place, but has been updated by the new 2024 SEMD. The new direction introduced changes relating to water supply access arrangements between companies; risk assessment, with a requirement for annual assessments for critical national infrastructure; reporting to authorities about responses to emergency or security events; and critical national infrastructure auditing requirements. 

The new direction also revoked the 2017 SEMD.