Drinking Water Protected Areas (Surface Water)

Drinking Water Protected Areas (Surface Water) are defined by the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England & Wales) Regulations 2017 (or WFD Regulations) as locations where raw water is abstracted for human consumption providing, on average, more than 10 cubic metres per day, or serving more than 50 persons, or is intended for such future use. For surface water Drinking Water Protected Areas water may be abstracted from rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs. Drinking Water Protected Areas are based on the River Basin Management Plan water body area within which the abstraction is located. Water sources used for drinking supplies need to be protected under the WFD Regulations to ensure they are not polluted and avoid / minimise the need for additional purification treatment which can be costly and resource intensive. The water companies must ensure compliance with the Drinking Water Directive and the Priority Substances Directive chemical parameters at the tap, as regulated by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). Water Companies and the Environment Agency identify Drinking Water Protected Areas that are ‘at risk’ of deterioration from certain substances which could affect treatment and non-statutory Safeguard Zones are established. Within these zones, the Environment Agency works with the Water Companies to plan and implement targeted measures to address the identified risks. This dataset includes all of the current Drinking Water Protected Areas with a qualifying abstraction, indications of whether or not the area is deemed ‘at risk’ and, if a Safeguard Zone has been defined, which substances are affecting them. For more information on Safeguard Zones please refer to the "Drinking Water Safeguard Zone (Surface Water)" dataset also available on the Defra DSP. This data has been updated in 2022 following a national review of surface water protected area records for the Cycle 3 River Basin Management Plans. Please note the status of Drinking Water Protected Areas and any associated Safeguard Zones are continuously under review and details may change and/or become out of date once published. Please send any data or other enquiries in relation to this dataset to the point of contact identified below.