Regulations for private water supply


We clean and supply high quality drinking water to over 3 million customers across Wales, but in some instances customers can get their drinking water from other sources.

There are many ways a customer can receive drinking water that isn’t from us, such as having a private water supply like a spring or borehole, often in remote areas or in the countryside. However, if the private water supply is connected to our drinking water supply in some way, we still need to ensure that the system complies with the regulations.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is the regulator for public water supplies but the Local Authority is the regulator for private water supplies and is responsible for enforcement of the Private Water Supply Regulations. As part of this responsibility they will complete risk assessments and arrange sampling of private supplies (when necessary), and we collaborate with the local authority when required.

For more detailed information regarding the DWi and private water supplies please see the following link http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/private-water-supply/index.htm.