this post was submitted on 08 Dec 2024
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Summary

The UK’s tap water safety is at risk due to the closure of all domestic laboratories certified to test water treatment products under EU-derived Regulation 31.

Without certified labs, new products cannot be approved, and existing ones requiring retesting are becoming non-compliant.

Industry insiders blame Brexit, as EU countries will share lab capacity starting in 2026, while UK rules prohibit foreign testing.

This has created a backlog of products, limited market competition, and raised costs. While officials claim water remains safe, experts warn of delays in adopting innovative treatments.

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[–] Worx@lemmynsfw.com 35 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I don't give a fuck, because at least we can now control our passport colour. That's worth any amount of risk

[–] towerful@programming.dev 18 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Scottish tap water is a public/government company.
They do a good job.
Unfortunately, climate change is impacting the level of reservoirs & water ways (ie, going down), and Scottish people use more water than English people (like 30% more, a substantial amount).
Hopefully Scottish water continues to be great, and continue to get the funding they need to do a good job

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You need lots of water to make all that Irn Bru.

[–] towerful@programming.dev 3 points 2 weeks ago

Rusting them girders has become harder since they painted the forth rail bridge with that anti-rust coating!

[–] FlorisJan@kbin.melroy.org 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Any idea why there's that 30% difference? Just a guess but could it be that in Glasgow water's free?

[–] towerful@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not just in Glasgow. Water is a flat rate covered by council tax across all of Scotland.
It's likely because we don't pay for units used, and awareness of water conservation hasn't happened/stuck.

[–] FlorisJan@kbin.melroy.org 2 points 2 weeks ago

That's what I was thinking. Well there's always been plenty of water in Scotland afaik but if that's going to change they're probably going to start charging for it

[–] tehWrapper@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Brexit the gift that keeps giving..

[–] Teknikal@eviltoast.org 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I'd say the stuff in Belfast tastes pretty terrible and I wouldn't drink it, when I was a kid though it was better than now. I'm honestly not sure I'd risk my tap water even if I bought a filter.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Jeez that’s just sad on top of pathetic.

[–] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

Blaming the loss of domestic industry on brexit is just wrong. Not having a domestic lab is still bad without brexit, it's just not headline worthy.