The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 (the “1990 Regulations”).

The principal changes to the 1990 Regulations are–

(a) standards of wholesomeness prescribed in those Regulations in respect of water that is supplied by water authorities and private suppliers for drinking, washing or cooking are also prescribed in respect of water that is so supplied for use in food production (regulations 3(a), 4(1), (2) and (3), 5, 9(1)and (2(b), 10(2), (3) and (4), 11(3)(a) and 13(a));

(b) regulation 3 is amended to allow to be regarded as wholesome water which, on transfer from a service reservoir for supply, contains total coliforms (a microbiological parameter) only if 95% of the results of analysis of samples taken in respect of that parameter in the preceding 12 months established an absence of total coliforms (regulations 3(b) and (d) and 12);

(c) regulation 12 is amended to enable the Secretary of State to modify or revoke an authorisation granted under paragraph (1) of that regulation and the Secretary of State is permitted to make modifications under amendments to regulations 7 and 12 after giving at least six weeks' notice if the authority agrees (regulations 4(4) and 6); and

(d) amendments are made to Part VII in relation to the provision of information (regulation 11).

The amendments described at (a) above supplement the amendments to Part VIA of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 made by section 56 of the Food Safety Act 1990 and give effect to the requirements of Council Directive 80/778/EEC (OJ No. L 229, 30.8.80, p.11) in relation to water used in a food production undertaking.

The Regulations also make a number of amendments to clarify the requirements of the 1990 Regulations and to correct minor errors and omissions.