Public Health and Drinking Water:
Preventing Cryptosporidium Getting into
Public Drinking Water Supplies

Contents 1: Introduction 2: Background 3: The Nature of the Problem 4: Current Legislation 5: The Policy Solution Proposed 6: Other Aspects of the New Regulations 7: Regulatory Appraisal 8: Issues for Consultation Annex A: Cryptosporidium - The Organism Annex B: Statutory Instruments Annex C: Compliance Cost Assessment - The Proposed Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 Annex D: Regulatory Appraisal on the Proposed Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 1: Introduction 1.1 The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Secretary of State for Wales, are minded to make new Regulations. They believe that these Regulations are needed to provide additional protection to the public by reducing the risk of Cryptosporidium being found in drinking water supplies. But before reaching a decision on whether to make the Regulations they wish to know the views of interested parties on the broad approach that it is proposed to adopt. This consultation paper explains the proposed new Regulations, and seeks views on a number of specific points, although comments on other points would also be welcome. 1.2 The paper has sections: summarising the background to the proposed new Regulations discussing the nature of the problem that the proposed Regulations would address outlining the proposed Regulations identifying questions that it would be particularly helpful to see considered in any response. 1.3 A copy of the draft Regulations, and a provisional Compliance Cost Assessment and Regulatory Appraisal for the proposal are attached as annexes. 1.4 Comments on the proposed Regulations should be sent to Sharon Watkins at Zone 3/G20, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE to arrive no later than 30 June 1998. Comments can also be sent by e-mail to wsr.doe@dial.pipex.com 1.5 The replies received in consultations such as this are normally made public, often by being placed in the Department's library where they can be consulted. We will assume that replies to this consultation are intended to be available to the public unless the author specifically asks for their comments to be treated as in confidence. All replies, including those given in confidence, will be included in any statistical summaries of the response to this consultation that may be prepared. Published 5 June 1998 Water Quality Index Defra Home Page