Do You Need to Demonstrate That Your Water Is Suitable to Drink?

January 29, 2021

For operators of private water supplies, the ability to meet regulatory compliance is paramount. Following changes to the Private Water Supplies Regulations in England and Wales, our specialists undertook ‘Certification of Persons Scheme for sampling private water supplies’. This ensures our team can continue to sample our clients’ private water supplies and provide the evidence required by local authorities throughout England & Wales.


What's the big deal?


The 2018 amendment to the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations, and the Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2017,

introduced the requirement for water samplers to be accredited to a recognised international standard. A certification scheme was finally made available in July 2020, with the aim of ensuring a common standard for collecting water samples from private water supplies, to safeguard against the risk of contamination, and to ensure that sample results are representative of water quality.


Dr Phil Ham, our managing director commented:


“Envireau Water has always conducted water sampling to the highest standard, in accordance with industry best practice. Nevertheless, this accreditation allows our specialists to receive recognition and work in accordance with the EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012 standard. It means we can continue to conduct robust water sampling of private water supplies for our clients, and local authorities, up and down the country.”


What about Scotland and Northern Ireland?


The requirement for certification only applies in England and Wales but the requirements are likely to be introduced in Scotland and Northern Ireland in the future.

 

When is water sampling required?


If you operate a private supply that is shared, provides more than 10m3 of water per day, or is used for any commercial activity, then these new requirements apply to you.  


That’s where Envireau Water come in. Whether you are a client needing our specialist regulatory guidance or a local authority who may not yet have certification, our team can provide support. Get in touch with our specialists on info@envireauwater.co.uk or call on 01332 871 882

Share

By Rachael Plant May 28, 2025
We officially unveiled our newest office location in April last year! Known as a hub of Hydrogeology, our Shrewsbury office sits in the heart of the town and is a testament to our growth and a strategic move to better serve our clients in the West Midlands and Wales. We're excited to introduce you to our skilled experts! Tamsin Morey: Having joined in 2003, Principal Water Resources Specialist Tamsin has over 20 years consulting experience, with her role focusing primarily on water resource management and high level regulator negotiation. Tamsin manages projects primarily within the agricultural and food & drink industries, with expertise ranging from catchment-scale water resource assessments to the delivery of detailed site-specific solutions to solve specific client issues.
By Rachael Plant May 21, 2025
Welcome to our Melbourne office in Derbyshire! Connecting you to both Derby and Leicester, this charming market town is surrounded by beautiful countryside and a multitude of boutique shops and delicious bakeries! We're excited to introduce you to our talented professionals! Lauren Moore: A Chartered Manager (Fellow) with an MSc in Management and Leadership, Lauren joined Envireau Water in 2018 and now leads business operations across the company’s four offices, playing a central role in shaping and delivering the company's strategic direction. Lauren’s expertise spans project and change management, business innovation, digital transformation and marketing, with a strong focus on improving operational efficiency and supporting sustainable growth.
By Rachael Plant May 20, 2025
As much as we all love the sunshine and have been embracing the recent warmer weather spell across the UK, the prolonged dry conditions are now raising concerns that England may be at risk of a potential drought this summer. Following an exceptionally sunny and dry April, which experienced just over 56% of usual rainfall, the start of May was also the warmest on record, surpassing the previous high set in 1990. With water resources already strained, it is more important than ever that proactive measures are promptly adopted to mitigate this risk, promote water conservation and avoid the potential for future restrictions. We asked Principal Water Resources Specialist, Tamsin Morey , for her thoughts on the matter... Tamsin, what dangers are we already seeing in the UK?
Show More
By Rachael Plant May 28, 2025
We officially unveiled our newest office location in April last year! Known as a hub of Hydrogeology, our Shrewsbury office sits in the heart of the town and is a testament to our growth and a strategic move to better serve our clients in the West Midlands and Wales. We're excited to introduce you to our skilled experts! Tamsin Morey: Having joined in 2003, Principal Water Resources Specialist Tamsin has over 20 years consulting experience, with her role focusing primarily on water resource management and high level regulator negotiation. Tamsin manages projects primarily within the agricultural and food & drink industries, with expertise ranging from catchment-scale water resource assessments to the delivery of detailed site-specific solutions to solve specific client issues.
By Rachael Plant May 21, 2025
Welcome to our Melbourne office in Derbyshire! Connecting you to both Derby and Leicester, this charming market town is surrounded by beautiful countryside and a multitude of boutique shops and delicious bakeries! We're excited to introduce you to our talented professionals! Lauren Moore: A Chartered Manager (Fellow) with an MSc in Management and Leadership, Lauren joined Envireau Water in 2018 and now leads business operations across the company’s four offices, playing a central role in shaping and delivering the company's strategic direction. Lauren’s expertise spans project and change management, business innovation, digital transformation and marketing, with a strong focus on improving operational efficiency and supporting sustainable growth.
By Rachael Plant May 20, 2025
As much as we all love the sunshine and have been embracing the recent warmer weather spell across the UK, the prolonged dry conditions are now raising concerns that England may be at risk of a potential drought this summer. Following an exceptionally sunny and dry April, which experienced just over 56% of usual rainfall, the start of May was also the warmest on record, surpassing the previous high set in 1990. With water resources already strained, it is more important than ever that proactive measures are promptly adopted to mitigate this risk, promote water conservation and avoid the potential for future restrictions. We asked Principal Water Resources Specialist, Tamsin Morey , for her thoughts on the matter... Tamsin, what dangers are we already seeing in the UK?
By Rachael Plant May 15, 2025
Nestled in North Yorkshire, our Aske Office is just outside the lively market town of Richmond. Just a short stroll away, the charmingly converted stables at Aske Estate provide stunning, scenic views, perfect for a lovely lunch time stroll! Keep reading to discover more about our expert team! Phil Ham: Managing Director Phil joined Envireau Water 'officially' in 2010. A Principal Hydrogeologist with over 20 years professional experience working with natural water systems, Phil specialises in water supply development and hydrogeological impact assessments, overseeing projects primarily within the food and drink and industrial sectors. Phil is also a qualified expert witness, having completed the highly acclaimed Cardiff University Law School/Bond Solon expert witness training course.
Show More