(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations are made to comply with the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Case C-340/96,Commission v United Kingdom [1999] ECR I–2023.
The Regulations specify requirements which must be satisfied before an undertaking given by a water company may be accepted by the relevant enforcement authority under section 19(1)(b) of the Water Industry Act 1991 for the purposes of ensuring compliance with requirements of Directive 80/778/EEC (the Drinking Water Directive) (regulation 2). The Regulations prescribe—
(a) how applications in connection with such undertakings are to be made to the relevant enforcement authority (regulation 3);
(b) what must be specified in such undertakings (regulation 4);
(c) the conditions for acceptance of such undertakings (regulation 5);
(d) what happens if those conditions cease to be satisfied (regulation 6); and
(e) transitional provisions in relation to existing undertakings (regulation 7).
The Regulations also amend section 19(1)(b) of the Water Industry Act 1991 to reflect the new requirements (regulation 8).