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5.3.3 Regulators
The three main bodies responsible for regulation of water in the UK are:
- The Environment Agency/SEPA (Scotland).
- The Drinking Water Inspectorate.
- The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food ( MAFF).
As mentioned the Environment Agency, as mentioned, regulates the discharge consent system into controlled waters or into sewers, should the discharge be from prescribed processes or if it contains any Red List substances. It is also responsible for safeguarding the quality of water in river systems which is monitored at set intervals and for which the Agency sets quality objectives.
When the Agency sets standards for effluent discharges the following conditions are attached:
- The provision of facilities and equipment and equipment for sampling and monitoring.
- The provision of means to record discharges.
- Keeping permanent records, both of the discharges and of the conditions of the discharge consents.
Drinking water quality is the responsibility of the Drinking Water Inspectorate. This was a part of the DoE created under the Water Act 1989. Its purpose is to make sure that the legal standards for drinking water, as laid out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 as amended, are met.
MAFF oversees the regulation of pollution of the marine environment, and also ensures that the provisions for monitoring which are outlined in the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 are undertaken. Pollution of rivers also affects the quality of marine water. MAFF supervises the administration of the 68 designated nitrate sensitive areas in accordance with the provisions of the Nitrate Sensitive Areas Regulations 1994, as amended.
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