Water UK has told the EU that tighter drinking water rules are not needed in the UK and warned that any proposed changes could lead to an unnecessary increase in customer bills.

The body which represents the UK water companies at both national and EU level said that drinking water in the UK is among the very best in the world and any further EU intervention could lead to unnecessary extra costs to customers.

Responding to the EU consultation on the Drinking Water Directive, Water UK said any future changes to drinking water quality standards must be based on robust scientific evidence of risks to human health.

Crucially, with customers in the UK and across Europe facing cost of living pressures, Water UK said it is essential that customer affordability and acceptability is taken into account in setting future legislation and standards.

In its response to the consultation, Water UK said:

“We must ensure a measured pace of change towards tighter quality standards with appropriately targeted measures that make full use of the polluter pays principle and source control options ahead of capital and energy intensive treatment solutions. …Water suppliers will need to be innovative in approach, using tried and tested solutions where possible whilst also considering new approaches, such as catchment management or source control that may prove more sustainable long-term options.”

“Management of drinking water quality should be undertaken using a risk based approach whereby standards can be met and risks mitigated whilst minimising the need for end-of-pipe, capital intensive solutions and therefore avoid significant increases in the price of water.”

Water UK agreed that measures could be taken to improve water efficiency and address quantity issues and particular attention should be focussed on the water re-use (particularly at a domestic level). However quantity and efficiency measures should not be within the scope of the Drinking Water Directive - instead additional legislative instruments should be used.

Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive, Water UK, commented:

"We are very proud of our record on drinking water quality in the UK and the benefits it has brought to people's health and well-being.

"Drinking water regulators in the UK provide the robust regulation needed to ensure that standards are maintained and that the water industry is always looking to identify and tackle risks to drinking water and consequently safeguarding public health.

"It is vital that the EU recognises the standards we already impose on ourselves in the UK, and the impacts that any proposed tighter regulation could have on customers' bills."

The European Commission launched the latest consultation in June to assess the need for any changes to EU drinking water legislation.