UK Statutory Instrument 2016 United Kingdom

Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016

View on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) Ask Guv about this Act

At a glance

Enforced by

Ofwat, DWI

What's here

27 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides

Penalty landscape

1 of 27 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 26 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

2 guides

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1 — General

Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.001

Citation, commencement and application

s.002

Interpretation

Part 2 — Water supply zones

s.003

Water supply zones

  • Designate water supply zones annually with uniform water quality

Part 3 — Wholesomeness

s.004

Wholesomeness

  • Ensure water supplied for human consumption is wholesome

Part 4 — Monitoring of water supplies

s.006

Monitoring: general provisions

  • Take and analyse water samples across each supply zone
s.007

Sampling points

  • Select water sampling points at random
s.008

Authorisation of supply points

  • Notify Secretary of State if authorised sampling data may be unreliable
s.009

Numbers of samples

  • Take standard number of water samples each year for analysis
s.010

Sampling: further provisions

  • Sample water when suspecting unwholesome supply
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.005

Interpretation and application of Part 4

Part 5 — Monitoring – additional provisions

s.012

Sampling for particular substances and parameters

  • Take and analyse minimum water samples from supply zones
s.013

Sampling at treatment works

  • Take and test water samples at treatment works annually
s.014

Sampling at service reservoirs

  • Take weekly water samples at each service reservoir
s.015

Sampling: new sources

  • Sample and test water from new or reactivated sources before supply
s.016

Collection and analysis of samples

  • Collect, handle, store and analyse water samples to required standards
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.011

Interpretation of Part 5

Part 6 — Drinking water protected areas

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.017

Drinking water abstraction points: monitoring sites

Part 7 — Investigations, authorisation of departures and remedial action

s.018

Investigations: Schedule 1 parameters

  • Investigate and report water quality failures to authorities and consumers
s.019

Investigations: indicator parameters

  • Investigate and report failures to meet indicator parameter specifications
s.020

Action by the Secretary of State

  • Comply with Secretary of State notices on water quality dangers
s.021

Failure attributable to domestic distribution system where water is supplied to the public

  • Water undertaker must take corrective steps when served a notice by the Secretary of State
s.022

Authorisation of temporary supply of water that is not wholesome

  • Apply to Secretary of State for temporary water quality departure with full supporting information
s.025

Revocation and variation of authorisations

  • Notify Secretary of State when departure circumstances end
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.023

Authorisations: terms and conditions

s.024

Publicity for authorisations

Part 8 — Water treatment

s.026

Disinfection and other treatment arrangements

Unlimited fine
  • Disinfect water and operate adequate treatment before supplying it
s.027

Risk assessment

  • Carry out and continuously review risk assessments of water treatment works and supply systems
s.029

Water treatment to minimise contamination from pipes

  • Treat water to minimise copper and lead contamination from pipes
s.030

Replacement of lead pipes

  • Replace your share of lead pipes when a property owner requests it
s.031

Application and introduction of substances and products

  • Do not add substances or products to drinking water without approval or standards compliance
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.028

Procedure following risk assessment and prohibition of supply

s.032

Use of processes

s.033

Offences

Part 9 — Records and information

s.034

Maintenance of records

  • Maintain detailed records for each water supply zone
s.035

Provision of information

  • Provide water quality records on request and notify authorities of health risk events

Part 10 — Functions of local authorities in relation to water quality

Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.036

Application and interpretation of this Part

s.037

Duties of local authorities: supplementary provision

Part 11 — Enforcement

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.038

Contraventions by relevant suppliers

Part 12 — Review

s.039

Reporting

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must publish triennial report on drinking water quality Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.039

Review

Part 13 — Amendments and revocations

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.040

Amendments and revocations

Schedules

s.sch004

Screening for certain radionuclides or for an individual radionuclide

  • Carry out additional radionuclide analysis when screening thresholds are exceeded
Browse 3 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch004

Monitoring for compliance with the ID

s.sch004

Screening strategies for gross alpha activity and gross beta activity

s.sch004

Calculation of the ID

Other sections — not classified into a Part

These sections exist in the Act but the contents-of-Parts walker did not place them under a Part. Likely amendments or sections inserted out of the original Part structure.

Browse 3 other unclassified sections
s.para.42

Annual sampling frequencies for Group A4 parameters: water supply zones

s.para.43

For the purposes of this table, where the population is...

s.para.44

Annual sampling frequencies for Group A2 parameters: treatment works or supply points

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

Ofwat

Primary

Water Services Regulation Authority

Economic regulator for the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales. Sets price limits, monitors service quality, and enforces environmental duties. …

DWI

Drinking Water Inspectorate

Regulates drinking water quality in England and Wales. Audits water companies, investigates water quality incidents, and approves products and substances used in …

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.