‘Brexit problem’: UK tap water safety at risk after testing labs shut down | Water industry

The safety of the UK's tap water could be at risk as water suppliers are unable to use products to purify it, industry insiders say, as all laboratories that test and certify the chemicals have closed.

There is talk in the industry of a “Brexit problem” because EU countries will share laboratory capacities from 2026. This means that if the UK were still in the EU, water companies could use products that have passed tests on the continent.

However, UK regulations mean that products cannot be tested abroad. They must be tested in the country in a certified laboratory, of which there are currently none.

If companies fail to keep pollutants out of the water supply, this can pose a health risk. This year thousands of people in Devon fell ill after the Cryptosporidium parasite was discovered in supplies. Schools and businesses were forced to temporarily close, negatively impacting the local economy. Some households had to boil their tap water for a month to remove the contamination.

According to Drinking Water Inspection (DWI) regulations, any item or chemical that comes into contact with drinking water must be tested under strict conditions, in accordance with an EU-derived law known as Regulation 31. This ensures that these products are safe to use Dangerous chemicals enter the drinking water supply and do not promote the growth of dangerous microbes.

Laboratories must be Regulation 31 certified, meaning they carry out all tests on chemicals, pipes or other items to a specific standard. There used to be three such laboratories in the UK, but as of 2021 there are none as they have all closed due to high operating costs.

This means that new products cannot be tested or used to purify water, and products that need to be retested every five years cannot be approved either. Water utility whistleblowers have stated that this “limits the availability of products on the market, both endangering safety and reducing competition, driving up prices and reducing service quality.” There is a backlog of dozens of products awaiting testing.

There are no plans for new laboratories. The DWI was unable to give a date as to when a new laboratory might be opened or when the problem will be solved. Water utility insiders say the rule has indefinitely halted the use of any new products that remove contaminants from the water supply.

Water companies tasked with purifying tap water in the UK said the gap in testing capacity had caused existing products to become non-compliant and have since been withdrawn from the market. They said many of these products, which cannot currently be used, actively prevent contaminants from entering the water supply.

Trading group British Water told the industry: “The closure of laboratories providing this vital testing service has not only disrupted production lines, but has also left suppliers struggling to meet their customers’ stringent requirements.”

Ceris van de Vyver, the director of CV Water Consultancy, has worked in the water industry for decades, including at DWI.

“Currently we do not have testing facilities in the UK to meet the testing requirements of Regulation 31,” she said. “These are specific and highly focused laboratories. It causes some problems in introducing new innovative products as we currently do not have an open laboratory.”

Van de Vyver said the situation in the EU is different: “In Europe, as part of the recast Drinking Water Directive, harmonization of standards for EU members is planned by December 2026.” We look at what Europe is doing. The events of the last few years obviously mean that we are in a different situation.”

She added: “At the moment we are operating safely but manufacturers are finding it frustrating because we cannot approve products in the UK.”

“[The DWI] It is important to ensure that all products that come into contact with drinking water are of the highest quality. As a water industry, we have to comply and want to maintain our water quality.”

A DWI spokesman said: “While there are currently difficulties with laboratory capacity for Regulation 31 testing in the UK, this has no impact on consumers and no product will bypass the system.” Rather, this is an operational difficulty within of the water utility and the supply chain system. Industry, regulators and government are working to increase the capacity of the system.”

A Water UK spokesperson said: “Regulation 31 is vital to ensuring the products we use to treat and transport our drinking water meet the highest standards. Due to strict regulations, the UK has drinking water that is independently rated as the best in the world. Water companies work with regulators and manufacturers to ensure the process works as efficiently as possible.”