Information note on Regulation 9 (Wales)
For a printable copy see: Regulation-9-Wales-v6-final-1.pdf (dwi.gov.uk).
Background
This note specifically covers regulation 9 supplies (large supplies and supplies as part of a commercial or public activity). There is a diagram illustrating how regulation 9 differs from regulation 10 and 11, for completeness, on page 3.
Regulation 9 applies to all private water supplies which supply:
a) an average daily volume of water of 10m3 or more for domestic purposes (Note. where volume cannot be ascertained this equates approximately with 50 persons or more); or
b) water as part of a public or commercial activity (excluding supplies that are part of a domestic tenancy).
Public activity
Supplies that form part of a public activity are those serving any premises where the water is made available to the public for human consumption for example, public buildings. An illustrative list of such premises and some exceptions are given at Appendix 1.
Commercial activity
Supplies where the water is being used as part of a commercial activity include the following:
a) Food production
This includes all premises where the water is used in any food-production undertaking for the manufacture, processing, preservation or marketing of products or substances intended for human consumption unless the competent authority (in this case the Food Standards Agency (FSA)) are satisfied that the quality of water cannot affect the wholesomeness of the foodstuff in its finished form1.
If water from a private water supply is used in food production for anything other than primary food production (the growing of, harvesting or extraction of raw materials for other industries, including, milking and farmed animal production prior to slaughter) then it must satisfy the Regulations. Supplies serving milking parlours where the water is used only for washing down purposes do not constitute a regulation 9 supply. This is covered by food law, for which the regulating body is the Food Standards Agency. For further details see information note for regulation 3 (scope).
In some cases, water may be transported from its source to one or more locations (depots, factories etc) via bottles, containers or tankers in different local authority areas, where the water is used as part of a commercial activity. In these cases, all local authorities concerned should work in a collaborative capacity to ensure that all necessary requirements of the Regulations are met.
b) Businesses relying on a private supply of water where it is used for domestic purposes. These include the following:
- hotels, guest houses, restaurants, cafes and bed and breakfast, including Airbnb establishments, including single private dwellings where B and B is available;
- any holiday let accommodation;
- caravan sites, camp sites and similar facilities, whether seasonal or open all year;
- registered child minders.
Appendix 2 details some further illustrative examples of commercial activity and non-commercial activities.
Please note: where a supply is provided as part of a domestic tenancy, monitoring must be undertaken in accordance with regulation 11.
Monitoring
Monitoring of regulation 9 supplies must be carried out in accordance with schedule 2 to the Regulations and to carry out any additional monitoring that the risk assessment (see regulation 6) shows to be necessary. Further guidance on monitoring frequencies is set out in the guidance note on regulation 7 (monitoring).
Supply type identifier
Appendix 1: list of buildings where public activity can occur
Medical | GP surgery |
|---|---|
Education | School/college |
Hostelries | Cafes |
Exhibition | Museum |
Sports | Sports ground/stadium |
Miscellaneous | Hairdresser |
Other situations where water from a private water supply is supplied as part of public activity include those where drinking water is offered to the public at festivals, fairs and other temporary events. Private water supplies that supply water fountains, including those which form part of a heritage attraction (for example ancient springs and grottos), which are used for human consumption also fall within the scope of regulation 9. Pools and spas where the water is used exclusively for leisure or religious purposes are not (for example swimming pools). Regulation 9 does however apply where these establishments also provide water to the public for domestic purposes (for example at drinking water fountains) or as part of a commercial activity (for example for making beverages in an on-site café).
Appendix 2: The following examples are where water is being supplied as part of a commercial activity.
The following examples are where water is not considered as being supplied as part of a commercial activity so would not be fall within scope of regulation 9:
Properties or housing provided as part of a job, where the occupants of the property have special rights of occupation and maintenance that are akin to ownership, for example tied cottage, lifetime tenancy/occupation rights. This will usually be a regulation 11 supply.
Agricultural tenancies – where the provision of accommodation is not the primary purpose of the tenancy and it is generally long term with maintenance obligations akin to ownership. This will usually be a regulation 11 supply.
Foster homes – financial compensation is provided rather than payment (provision of a home rather than a service). This will usually be a regulation 11 supply.
Any property where the landlord/owner retains responsibility for the water supply system (due to the location of the source and/or treatment systems for example) or where they chose to keep responsibility for maintenance and operation of key aspects of the supply (for example to ensure correct operation of a treatment system). This will usually be a regulation 11 supply.
Rented single dwellings where the occupier agrees (as part of the rental agreement) to take full responsibility to maintain and operate the water supply system and can evidence this (documentation/records). This will usually be a regulation 10 supply.
Social housing offered by councils or not-for-profit housing associations. This will usually be a regulation 11 supply.
Temporary events not on a private water supply (mains supply, tankers, and bowsers). In these cases, local authorities should ensure the organisers comply with BS-8551. Some supplies to temporary events may fall within the scope of regulation 8.
Is a private supply serving a business or commercial organisation a regulation 9 supply?
A supply serving a business office, which is used for commercial purposes is not, in most cases, deemed a public building, and therefore NOT a regulation 9 supply unless the water being consumed is part of a commercial or public activity. If the business workers are consuming the private supply for any domestic purposes, without being charged a fee (for example, where beverages are made in a staff rest area or free canteen) the supply is subject to the requirements of regulation 11 of the Regulations (unless the volume consumed is >10m3 per day). Furthermore, the employer has a duty under health and safety law to provide employees and visitors with water for drinking and sanitation facilities.
If the business is selling products where the water from a private water supply is part of an ingredient, for example beverages, which are being sold for a fee in a staff canteen, then the requirements of regulation 9 do apply.
If a business is making available water that is derived from a private water supply via a commercial vending machine for a fee, then regulation 9 applies.
However, where a premises, including a single dwelling served by a private water supply is used as a base, commercial child minding facility or registered office from which a commercial activity is operated, regulation 9 may apply. Examples of these types of regulation 9 supplies include:
Where the commercial activity operated from the premises uses the water in any food production undertaking for the manufacture, processing, preservation or marketing of products or substances intended for human consumption, and/or where the water is used for domestic purposes by members of the public. For example, a dwelling offering tea room facility to the public.
Where a premises is used for an activity by the owner occupier employing workers, and the employees of the business rely on the kitchen and bathroom facilities to consume water for domestic purposes AND the volume of water is 10 m3 or more per day (if it is less than this volume it is a regulation 11 supply).
Where a premise is being used for child minding as part of a registered business and the children rely on the kitchen and bathroom facilities to use water for domestic purposes.
Where more than 10 m3/day of water is consumed for domestic purposes from the premises by workers/employees (if it is less than this volume it is a regulation 11 supply). An example of this type of arrangement might be kennels or stables, where workers use the kitchen of the single dwelling as a rest room.
1 FSA guidance confirms that potable water must be used on the final washing and cleaning of fresh fruit and vegetables that may be eaten raw, but clean water may be used for initial washing of crops (defined in FSA guidance – see guidance for regulation 3).
Clean water may also be used in a dairy for washing animals, in cooling systems, and for cleaning and washing down equipment if it does not affect the wholesomeness of the foodstuff in its finished form.
Version 6 of 2017 regs – February 2021