Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 March 2026
Correspondence received from Marcus Rink, Chief Inspector of drinking water, Drinking Water Inspectorate in relation to his appearance in front of the Committee on 6 January , dated 13 February 2026
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Reforming the water sector
Summary
Marcus Rink, Chief Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, writes to Alistair Carmichael MP following his 6 January 2026 committee appearance. He outlines 14 legislative and regulatory gaps constraining the DWI's ability to protect drinking water quality, security, and sufficiency. Key issues include lack of authority over third-party contractors, insufficient enforcement powers for water sufficiency failures, outdated regulations, and resource constraints limiting capacity for Water Reform participation.
Key findings
- DWI lacks regulatory powers over third-party contractors (design-build-operate firms, network contractors, retailers) despite their critical roles in water supply, posing growing risks to quality and security.
- Current enforcement mechanisms require costly court prosecutions; civil sanctions are needed for faster, more agile compliance on infrastructure failures central to supply sufficiency.
- DWI cannot prosecute or require improvements when companies fail to maintain sufficient water supplies during drought or infrastructure failure, a gap highlighted by South East Water's Tunbridge Wells loss-of-supply event.
- Drinking water standards regulations (Water Supply Regulations 2016) remain outdated; no statutory duty exists for the Chief Inspector to review or update standards, and Private Water Supplies Regulations last changed in 1999.
- DWI lacks dedicated funding for private supplies functions despite statutory responsibility, leaving 1.5% of population reliant on supplies with weak local authority enforcement and inconsistent performance.
- Multiple regulatory frameworks need updates: lead pipe removal in conveyancing, SEMD secondary legislation with civil sanctions, recycled water standards, fluoridation scheme oversight, and clarity on 'wholesome' water definition.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Marcus Rink, Alistair Carmichael MP, Drinking Water Inspectorate, Independent Water Commission, South East Water, Ofwat, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Notable line
“… the role of regulators and the impact that the water industry has on the wider society a critical consideration …”
Key Quotes
“… the role of regulators and the impact that the water industry has on the wider society a critical consideration , particularly when balancing protection of public health and the interest s of society including business growth.”
“… our team is small in relation to the other sector regulators concerned, and our contribution is severely limited by this.”
“A central strength of the Inspectorate is its agil ity and evidence ‑ based decision ‑ making. Our flat organisational structure and the multidisciplinary expertise of our scientists and engineers enable timely …”
“Unlike water quality failures, DWI currently cannot prosecute or require improvements when companies fail to maintain sufficient supplies, despite having a statutory duty to ensure sufficiency.”
“We currently have no powers to inspect, investigate or enforce against anyone other than water undertakers and licensees, despite these parties playing critical roles in the supply chain.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗