The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989

Part VI deals with the treatment of water and regulates the substances, processes and products that may be used by water undertakers in connection with the supply of water. Regulation 23 imposes requirements relating to the disinfection of water and imposes additional requirements for the treatment of surface water. It prohibits the abstraction for the supply of drinking water of waters below category A3, as required by Council Directive 75/440/EEC. Regulation 24 makes provision for securing the elimination or reduction to a minimum of the risk that water will be contaminated after supply by excessive concentrations of copper, lead or zinc. Regulation 25 specifies the circumstances in which water undertakers may apply or introduce substances or products into water supplied for drinking, washing or cooking. Regulation 26 enables the Secretary of State to require that his approval be obtained to the use of processes. Regulation 27 empowers the Secretary of State to make charges in respect of applications under regulation 25. Contravention of some of the requirements of regulations 25 and 26 is made a criminal offence by regulation 28, as is the making of false statements.

Part VII deals with the provision of information by water undertakers. Regulation 29 requires the undertakers to prepare and maintain records containing information about the quality of water supplied in their water supply zones. Regulation 30 requires each water undertaker to make available for public inspection and to supply local authorities with information about the quality of water within its water supply zones, the extent to which Part II of the Regulations has been complied with, details of any relaxations granted under Part III of the Regulations and of the action which has been taken to comply with undertakings given pursuant to section 20 of the 1989 Act. It also requires each water undertaker to provide local authorities and district health authorities with information relating to matters that could affect the health of persons residing in the authorities' areas. Regulation 31 requires water undertakers to publish an annual report containing information about the quality of water in the area for which it is responsible.

Part VIII imposes requirements on local authorities in the performance of their duties in relation to the quality of water supplied by water undertakers. Regulation 33 provides for the making of arrangements between the authorities and the undertakers about the provision of information. It also enables local authorities to take such samples of water as they may reasonably require.

Part IX provides that contraventions by water undertakers of duties or requirements imposed by Parts IV to VI of the Regulations are to be enforceable under section 20 of the 1989 Act by the Secretary of State. This provision is additional to the criminal sanctions provided by regulation 28 in relation to contraventions of regulations 25 and 26.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1989 c. 15.

[^f00002]: OJ No. L194, 25.7.1975, p.26.

[^f00003]: S.I. 1989/1148.

[^f00004]: The 15th Statement was issued in March 1989. Copies of it and of any supplement may be obtained from the Department of the Environment, Romney House, 43 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3PY.

[^f00005]: 1980 c. 53.