ABSTRACT

The Drinking Water Inspectorate is the technical regulator of the public water supply utilities in England and Wales. The Inspectorate is responsible for the regulation of the 29 statutory water utilities that provide water supplies to some 99% of the population of England and Wales. The Private Water Supplies Regulations requires Local Authorities to keep themselves informed about the quality of these private supplies. In 1996 the Drinking Water Inspectorate funded a study which included an assessment of the microbiological quality in a representative selection of private water supplies in central England. In 1997 the Drinking Water Inspectorate funded to assess the microbiological quality including the incidence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in a number of private water supplies. The incidence of Cryptosporidium in private water supplies was found to be significantly correlated with faecal streptococci and Clostridium perfringens. The Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991 require Local Authorities to classify all the private supplies in their area and establish monitoring programs.