The Drinking Water (Undertakings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000

Explanatory Note

(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).