What’s new in private water supplies?

On this page are highlighted changes to the private water supplies section of the DWI website, as well as other updates related to private water supplies.

Such changes include new or amended guidance, tools, and case studies.

Topic (new page, case study, research, statement, or update)

Date of publication

Link

The Chief Inspector’s Report covering private water supplies in Wales in 2023 has been published.

16 July 2024

Drinking Water 2023 – Private water supplies in Wales

Dŵr Yfed 2023 – Cyflenwadau dŵr preifat yng Nghymru

See all annual reports

The Chief Inspector’s Report covering private water supplies in England in 2023 has been published.

15 May 2024

Drinking Water 2023 – Private water supplies in England

See all annual reports

New research project published: Impact and future of the regulatory model and legislative framework surrounding private water supplies in England and Wales

15 May 2024

Link to research reports

Update: new version (V2.07) of regulation 8 risk assessment tool published. Bespoke additional mitigation requirements can now be added. Also, a question has been included on the risk assessment asking whether the supply operator holds an EUSR Water Hygiene ‘blue card’.

10 May 2024

See all risk assessment tools

Download regulation 8 risk assessment tool (V2.07)

New case study: long standing discoloured water problems at Trecwn village – Pembrokeshire

8 April 2024

Read case study

Index of case studies

New page: a reference table has been created containing useful links for assessing drinking water quality issues.

27 March 2024

See reference table

New guidance: this new guidance page covers actions for local authorities to take where temporary events with drinking water supplies are taking place.

27 March 2024

Read guidance on festivals and temporary events

Statement: Northumberland County Council have succeeded in prosecuting a private water supply owner for non-compliance with a regulation 18 notice. On 1 February 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty at Newcastle Magistrates Court to charges in contravention of The Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations, 2016 (as amended).

5 February 2024

Read press release on Northumberland County Council website

Update: regulation 8 guidance updated. The scope of regulation 8 has been clarified. Please refer to the information note page and the question and answer page.

31 January 2024

Information note on regulation 8 (revised version)

Regulation 8 – Questions and Answers

Update: regulation 6 guidance updated. The local authority is explicitly responsible for the risk assessment and actions taken as a result of it, regardless of contractor involvement.

3 January 2024

Information note on Regulation 6 (England)

Information note on Regulation 6 (Wales)

Nodyn gwybodaeth ar Reoliad 6 (Cymru)

Update: new version (V2.05) of risk assessment tool covering private supplies used for toilet flushing only has been published. Some columns were erroneously flagging as ‘very high’ risk upon entering ‘N/A’.

22 December 2023

See all risk assessment tools

Download risk assessment tool for toilet flushing (V2.05)

New case study: deficiencies in the quality and sufficiency of water supplies on new housing developments.

22 December 2023

Read case study

Index of case studies

New case study: a complaint from a consumer about a local authority not discharging its duty under the regulations.

22 December 2023

Read case study

Index of case studies

New case study: difficulties in securing funding to remediate a long term failing private water supply.

21 December 2023

Read case study

Index of case studies

New guidance: this new guidance page covers supplies accessible to the public, including waterspouts, fountains, and heritage supplies.

21 December 2023

Read guidance on publicly accessible supplies 

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