Regulatory Arrangements for Drinking Water in UK & Europe (Drinking Water Quality Regulation - Protecting Public Health?)

guardians of drinking water quality DRINKING WATER INSPECTORATE Marcus Rink Overview

– Short History –Public Health and Water – World & Europe in Context – Specific EU State Arrangements – Regulation in the UK – Water Quality Performance – Events and Risks History

John Snow Robert Koch 1813 - 1858 1843 -1910 WHO World

• World Population – 7.5 Billion

• In 2015, 663 million people – one in 10 – still drank water from unprotected sources. • In 41 countries, a fifth of people drink water from a source that is not protected from contamination • In many parts of the world water is not available all day, every day • Some sources protect against contamination, but it still might not be safe to drink the water

WHO/UNICEF: Progress on Sanitation and drinking water – 2015 update and MDG assessment Access to basic services in 2015

• Water Supply: • 912 M people live in 53 countries • 62 million lack piped water on premises • 4.4 million directly use surface water

• Water Sanitation • 62 million lack basic sanitation • 1.7 million defecate in the open Waterborne outbreaks

20% confirmed as related to water The Aim of all those associated with Drinking Water

To help protect public health and maintain public confidence in drinking water through, effective and proportionate assessment and management of the quality of drinking water supplies. EU Drinking Water

• Population 743 Million • 11,000 large suppliers , (80% of supply) • 85,000 small suppliers, (20% of supply) • 60% Publically owned • 1% GDP • Turnover 80 billion Euro’s • 500,000 FTE’s EU Overall Compliance EU Chemical Compliance EU Drinking Water Supply • Water in the EU Countries are supplied & Regulated by: • Municipalities or Regional Authorities • A combination of direct supply responsibility (Ger), co- operatives, (DK), service providers, (It), public-private partnerships (Fr, Esp), or inter-municipality arrangements (Fr, Ger). • Portugal, Spain, Greece and Belgium have a significant part of the supply by private utilities. • Netherlands and England and Wales are supplied by regional water companies. • Eng & Wales are the only countries with wholly Private supply companies • Republic of Ireland, Scotland and are supplied by single statutory corporations. • Autonomous Regulation exists in, (Por, NL, E&W, Scot, NI) Drinking Water in The Netherlands

• The Netherlands Key Facts: • 16M People • 10 Regional Companies (Public Owned by Act) • 100% supply coverage • 60% GW/40% SW • 116,000 km Mains • No Financial Regulator • Minister of Environment has WQ responsibility • A National and independent WQ Regulator inspects and has enforcement powers. • Water Quality considered one of the best in the EU Drinking Water in Germany

• Germany Key Facts: • 82M People • 100% supply coverage • 65% GW/35% SW/Springs/Bank Filtration • 500,000 km Mains • 6000-8000 suppliers, (1,200+ Municipal Utilities and mixture of other arrangements, 3.5% Private) • Supply completely decentralised • No autonomous regulators at all • The execution of German legislation is carried out by the Bundesländer and each reports WQ data to EU. • Water Quality monitored by Public Health of Municipalities & considered one of the best in the EU Drinking Water in Ireland

• Ireland Key Facts: • 4.8M People • 1 Statutory corporation covering 83.3% (Public Owned by Act 2014) • 99% supply coverage • 17% GW/83% SW • The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the independent economic regulator • EPA is the WQ Regulator with Supervisory powers and collect WQ data. • Local Authorities regulates private supplies. • Water Quality is improving Distribution of Supply in Ireland

Type of Supply % Pop. Water Source Mains Pipework Regulator

Public Supplies (962) 83.3 Public Public EPA

Public Group Supplies 1.8 Public Private LA

Private Group Water 4.2 Private Private LA Schemes

Private Supplies, 0.9 Private N/A LA (Hotels etc)

Private Household 11.1 Private N/A Exempt Evolution of Water Supply Arrangements in Ireland, Regulation and Actions

• 1989 - The Environmental Research Unit, were responsible for reporting on DW quality • 1993 - EPA was established to provide advice and assistance to sanitary authorities. (No enforcement powers) • In 2001, whilst overall compliance was 97%, but only <80% of Public Supplies and <70% of Group Supplies were free of faecal coliforms. • On 14 November 2002, Ireland was cited to the ECJ over the microbiological contamination of hundreds of public and private water supplies • In 2004, 91 out of 944 public water supplies detected an E. coli at least once in the year, by 2006 this was 77 which is 8% of supplies, (<1% of positives) • In 2004 the responsibility for drinking water was taken off town/borough councils and given to the 34 County or City Councils. Water Quality Outcomes?

• In 2007 the country faced a €30m fine from Brussels. • In 2007 as a result of a Cryptosporidium outbreak in Galway, 90,000 consumers were on a boil water notice for 5 months. 242 cases were recorded by the Health Service • In 2007 the EPA was given enforcement powers by Statutory Instrument • In 2010, 20 out of 944 public water supplies detected an E. coli at least once in the year, (E. coli compliance now at 99.8% in public supplies) • In 2010 the Commission closed the long- standing case on DW supplies Permanent Change?

• In 2013 it was concluded WQ was not improving any further • In 2014 A Statutory Company Irish Water was created • In 2014 - 50,000 people on 42 supplies on Boil Water Notices and 140 Remedial actions • In 2015, there were 20,221 in 20 supplies and 115 actions • In 2016 4,944 in 10 Supplies and 99 actions. • In 2016 >99.9% supplies free of E. coli Water Industry Evolution in UK

• The Water Act 1945 • • Consolidated water legislation & promotion of mergers • The • UK enters the EEC • Creation of 10 Regional & NI Authority • Control of investment by central Government • The Water Act 1983 • Reduced role of LA • The • Privatisation • • Duties of Regulated and Regulator • The Water Act 1999 • Prohibition of Disconnection • Water Industry Act Scotland 2002 • The establishment of Scottish Water and WICS • The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 • Northern Ireland Water Created Public Water Supply Arrangements in UK

• 17 Licensed Water Supply Companies, 17 in England, 3 in Wales (which are also in Eng), 1 in Scotland 1 in Northern Ireland • 6 other licensed companies* in England, 2 also in Wales, none in Scotland or NI, (making up 5 insets) • Supply 13,707 Ml/d in England, 826 Ml/d in Wales, 1,788 Ml/d in Scotland and 563 Ml/d in NI • 54 million people in England, 3 in Wales, 5 in Scotland 1.8 in NI) • 1,129 water treatment works in England and 78 in Wales, 240 in Scotland, 25 in NI • 3,512 service reservoirs in England, 459 in Wales, 987 in Scotland, 297 in NI • 313,673 km of water mains in England 31,364 in Wales, 48,900 in Scotland, 27,710 in NI • 1,505 water supply zones in England, 97 in Wales, 290 in Scotland, 50 in NI Private Water Supplies

• Nearly 40,000 private supplies in England & 14,000 in Wales • 576,261(E) & 80,000 (W) people lived or worked in premises that relied on a private supply. • almost 61,000 people living in 25,270 single domestic dwellings served by a private supply that is exempt from regulatory monitoring in England, with a further 30,000 people in 12,236 single domestic dwellings in Wales • 1,400,000 (E) and 400,000 (W) people will have attended festivals, shows and other events served by a temporary supply of water. • For England as a whole, in 2015, (1%) of the total population (56 million) was served by a private supply, whereas public supplies served the majority of the population (99%). And for Wales, (3%) of the total population (3 million) was served by a private supply, whereas public supplies served the majority of the population (97%). The Regulatory Framework

• EC Directives – 98/83 on the quality of water intended for human consumption • 1989 Water Act (Eng.); The Water (Scotland) Act 1980 (as amended) – legally enforceable water quality and environmental standards in regulations and independent regulators with duties and powers to publish, enforce improvements and prosecute. • 1991 Water Industry Act (Eng.); Water Industry Act Scotland 2002; The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 – legally enforceable duties with respect to water quality and the water industry • Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016; The WQ(Scotland) Regs 2010; NI 2017 • Private Water Supplies Regulations 2016; Scotland 2017; NI 2017 • Water Fittings Regulations 1999; The Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 – legally enforceable technical requirements for water quality. Primary Regulation

• Water Companies’ have a duty to – Supply wholesome water – Use approved materials – Plan for emergencies – Maintain records and provide all such assistance to the WQR

• Secretary of State (in E and W) (In effect DWI), Scottish Ministers in Scotland and DOE in NI has power to: – Make regulations & directions – Appoint technical assessors (s86 for E and W, s7 of ’02 Act in Sc. – appoint DWQR, s125 for NI) – The right to enter premises, require information and take measurements. – Enforce when there is breach of regulations, (Quality & Insufficiency) – Prosecute for the supply of water unfit for human consumption (s70 or s110 DPP in NI) [report to PF in Sc. – s76C of ’80 Act] The Drinking Water Inspectorate

• The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) was formed in 1990 to provide independent reassurance of the quality of public water supplies in England and Wales

• We are a small organisation of 41 staff, based in London.

• About 30 are Technically Qualified, most having previously worked in the company’s we regulate The Aim of the WQ Regulator

To help protect public health and maintain public confidence in drinking water through independent, effective and proportionate regulation of the quality of drinking water supplies. DWI Activities

• Technical audit of Water Companies • Audit & Inspection • Incident Investigation • Compliance Data • Consumer Complaints

• Technical advisors on drinking water quality issues & regulations • Advise LA on the PWS Reg’s and collection of data for EU submission • Notify (water quality & public health issues) to: • other Government departments • Non-Government organisations • Drinking Water Research • Promotion of good practice Drinking water quality

• Public supplies – High Quality as measured by Compliance – England 99.96% and Wales 99.97%, 99.91% (Scot) • Private supplies – ongoing concern about quality and safety but some signs of improvement. – 6% of test in Scotland not meeting standards in 2016 compared to 8% in 2010. – 5.2% of tests in Wales not meeting standards in 2016 compared to 9.6% in 2010. – 4.2% of tests in England not meeting standards in 2016 compared to 4.5% in 2015 and 9.6% in 2010. Measures Drinking water quality

England Wales Water supply events Notable Incidents – Public Supply

• Northrepps, Norfolk (2002): PAH • Melbourne (2005) – Chironomid larvae in supply serving 870,000 • Cwellyn (2005) – Cryptosporidiosis in the community • Mythe (2007) – Do not Drink notice to 340,000 people resulting from flooding • North Walsham (2007)– Boil Water notice to 15,000 people and alternative supplies contamination incident • Pitsford (2008) – Cryptosporidium in supply • Oxwych (2008) – Sewer Connection • North East London (2010) – Unpleasant T & O caused by effluent contamination from resin affecting raw water for abstraction. • Broadway (2012) – Direct contamination of a Reservoir • Alderney (2013) – Cryptosporidium in supply • Franklaw (2015) –Boil Water notice to 700,000+ people due to Cryptosporidium in supply • Thorne (2016) – Widespread microbial contamination due to fittings. Private Water Supplies

• Most common causes of waterborne disease in small supplies are caused by Campylobacter & E. coli O157 • Illness (E.coli 0157) in three family groups holidaying at two cottages served by private supply. • 22 symptomatic cases and five hospitalised. • Supply was from a spring in a wooded area of grazing pasture. • Deficiencies were changes in the catchment, undersized equipment and inadequate active management. Safe Drinking Water

• Health Based Targets • Source to Tap Water Safety Planning – Source – Assessment – Treatment – Monitoring – Distribution – Management – Delivery – Communication • Surveillance • Review Risk assessment Total lines of data submitted is 691,233

A - Target risk mitigation received, verified and maintained. E- Mitigation under investigation B - Additional control measures which will materially reduce risk are being validated F- Partial mitigation C - Additional control measures which will materially reduce risk are being delivered G - No mitigation in place : control point downstream D- Additional control measures are required to materially reduce risk H - No mitigation in place and none required Relative CRI Profiles The Objective of Water Supply & Regulation

• The provision of good clean wholesome water, all of the time • It should look good, taste good and not contain anything that maybe harmful. Reporting

• The DWI Web Pages: http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/ • The Chief Inspectors Report and Presentations for Public and Private supplies • The Business Performance Report • Publication of data tables for compliance, events and complaints