“Brexit issue”: UK drinking water safety threatened after testing labs close
Exclusive: EU countries will share lab resources, but UK rules stop testing products abroad
The safety of tap water in the UK could be at risk because water companies can’t use certain products to clean it, according to industry experts. This is because all the labs that test and approve the chemicals have closed.
Industry workers are calling this a “Brexit problem” because EU countries will start sharing lab capacity in 2026. If the UK were still part of the EU, water companies could use products that had passed tests in Europe.
However, UK rules say products must be tested in the country, in certified labs, but there are no such labs left in the UK.
If companies can’t keep harmful substances out of the water, it could be a health risk. This year, thousands of people in Devon became ill after a parasite, cryptosporidium, was found in the water. Some schools and businesses had to close temporarily, and it hurt the local economy. In some homes, people had to boil their water for a month to make it safe.
Under the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) rules, any item or chemical that touches drinking water must be tested under strict conditions, following an EU law called Regulation 31. This law makes sure that these products are safe to use, don’t release harmful chemicals into the water, and don’t cause harmful bacteria to grow.
Laboratories must be Regulation 31 certified, meaning they have to test chemicals, pipes, and other items to a specific standard. There used to be three certified labs in the UK, but since 2021, all of them closed because they were too expensive to operate.
As a result, new products can’t be tested or used to treat water, and products that need to be retested every five years can’t be approved. Whistleblowers from water companies have said this limits the number of products available, which could harm safety, reduce competition, raise prices, and lower the quality of service. There is now a backlog of many products waiting to be tested.
There are no plans to open new labs. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has not provided a date for when a new lab might open or when the issue will be resolved. Insiders at water companies say that a rule has stopped the use of new products designed to remove contaminants from the water supply for an unknown period.
Those responsible for cleaning the UK’s tap water at water companies say the lack of testing capacity has caused problems with the current products, making them no longer available for use. Many of these products were important for stopping contamination from entering the water supply.
The trade group British Water has told the industry that the closure of labs providing essential testing services has disrupted production and made it hard for suppliers to meet the strict requirements of their clients.
Ceris van de Vyver, the director of CV Water Consultancy, has worked in the water industry for many years, including at the DWI.
She said, “Right now, we don’t have testing facilities in the UK that meet regulation 31 requirements. These are very specialized labs, and it’s causing problems for adopting new innovative products because no lab is available at the moment.”
Van de Vyver pointed out that the situation in the EU is different: “In Europe, there’s a plan to align standards for EU members by December 2026, as part of the updated Drinking Water Directive. We are looking at what Europe is doing, but the situation is different for us because of recent events.”
She added, “Right now, we are operating safely, but manufacturers are frustrated because we can’t get products approved in the UK.”
“[The DWI] ensures that all products in contact with drinking water are of the highest quality, and we, as the water industry, must follow these rules to maintain water quality.”
A spokesperson from DWI said: “Although there are some issues right now with lab capacity in the UK for regulation 31 testing, it won’t affect consumers, and no products will skip the system. The problem is related to operations within the water company and supply chain. The industry, regulators, and government are working together to improve the system’s capacity.”
A spokesperson from Water UK said: “Regulation 31 is crucial to ensure that products used to treat and transport our drinking water meet the highest standards. Thanks to strong regulations, the UK has drinking water that is ranked as the best in the world. Water companies are working with regulators and manufacturers to make the process as efficient as possible.”
Published: 7th December 2024
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