Understanding the drinking water protected areas map and data
Drinking Water Protected Areas (DrWPAs) are water bodies (e.g. rivers, reservoirs, canals for Surface Water or underground reservoirs for Groundwater) where ‘raw’ water is abstracted for human consumption at a rate of at least 10m3/day or over 50 people are served.
In some DrWPAs raw water quality needs to be improved to avoid the need for extra treatment at drinking water treatment plants.
Although extra treatment may be needed there is not a risk to the drinking water supplied by water companies to our taps. Public drinking water supplies in England and Wales are robustly regulated by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) to ensure that they meet the required quality.
Key
Surface Waters
There are around 650 surface water DrWPAs in England and Wales.
At Risk Drinking Water Protected Areas
Wherever there is a risk of extra drinking water treatment being required a DrWPA is designated ‘at risk’.
If you click on any at ‘risk’ DrWPA a pop-up box will appear giving the following information:
- the reference number of the DrWPA;
- why the DrWPA is at risk – i.e. the substances that need to be addressed;
- contact details if you would like to speak to someone about the DrWPA and its upstream Safeguard Zone.
Not At Risk Drinking Water Protected Areas
Safeguard Zones
Catchment areas upstream of ‘at risk’ DrWPAs that influence the water quality in the DrWPA are being delineated by the EA and water companies.
The ‘at risk’ DrWPAs and the zones are where action to address water contamination will be targeted, so that extra treatment by water companies can be avoided.
All safeguard zones have yet to be delineated, or those that have may be subject to refinement. Please contact your regional office for more information.
Groundwater
Wherever there is a risk of extra drinking water treatment being required a DrWPA is designated ‘at risk’.
At Risk Areas
Probably At Risk Areas
Probably Not At Risk Areas
Not At Risk Areas
Safeguard Zones
For ‘at risk’ DrWPAs we may establish Safeguard Zones. These non-statutory Safeguard Zones are areas where activities can impact adversely on the quality of water abstracted in the DrWPA. Action to address pollution is targeted in these zones so that extra treatment of raw water can be avoided. Safeguard Zones are a joint initiative between the Environment Agency and water companies. Safeguard Zones are one of the main tools for delivering the Drinking Water Protected Area objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
If you click on any Groundwater Safeguard Zone a pop-up box will appear giving the following information:
- the reference number of the DrWPA;
- why the DrWPA is at risk – i.e. the substances that need to be addressed;
- contact details if you would like to speak to someone about the DrWPA and its upstream Safeguard Zone.
