Water Regulations Advisory Committee

The Water Regulations Advisory Committee (WRAC) served from 1996 to 2003 providing technical expertise to Government on preventing the waste, misuse, undue consumption and contamination of drinking water supplies.

Work of the Committee

WRAC was initially appointed in 1996 to advise the Government on the development of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. The Regulations were published in July 1999, replacing the Water Byelaws in England and Wales.

In 1999, WRAC was reconstituted to conduct a review of the enforcement of the Regulations by the water industry. The review of enforcement was published in 2002, after which WRAC's remit was extended to 2003 to take forward the recommendations identified in the review. To further this work, three working groups were formed to consider plumbing, technical and enforcement issues in greater detail. Minutes and papers from these meetings are available here.

Following the submission of its final report (90 KB) in 2003, Elliot Morley (Minister of State for Environment & Agri-Environment), explained in an open letter (10 KB) to the Chairman of WRAC that he had decided not to appoint a further Committee at the present time.

Terms of reference

'To advise the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the technical requirements for plumbing installations and fittings to be included in Regulations made under section 74 of the Water Industry Act 1991, the associated Guidance Document and Regulator's Specifications. To advise on the implementation and promotion of the Regulations and to monitor and report on their operation and enforcement two years from the date they come into force'.

Membership

Appointments to the Committee were made for three years and members received no remuneration, although travel and subsistence costs were met. Members sat on the committee as individuals, not as representatives of their organisations. Details of members, and their specialities and affiliations, are available here.

Publications and links

• Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS)

• A review of the enforcement of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (200 KB)

• Defra Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations index

Contact details

If you would like to contact the WRAC Secretariat, please email wrac@defra.gsi.gov.uk or alternatively write to the Secretariat at:

WRAC Secretariat
3/H19 Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6DE

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