New Chief Inspector of Drinking Water appointed

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has announced that Marcus Rink has been appointed as Chief Inspector of Drinking Water for England and Wales.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has announced that Marcus Rink has been appointed as Chief Inspector of Drinking Water for England and Wales.

Secretary of State for Environment, Elizabeth Truss, and the Welsh Government’s Minister for Natural Resources, Carl Sargeant AM, confirmed his appointment this week.

Rink, who has been Deputy Chief Inspector since 2008, will take up the post on 1^st August. He replaces Jeni Colbourne MBE, who has been in the position since 2003.

With nearly 30 years of experience working in health, environment and the water industry, Mr Rink has been with the Drinking Water Inspectorate since 2002. From 2008, he has been responsible for the operational regulation in England and Wales as Deputy Chief Inspector. He is also the UK member of the European Microbiology Expert Group and Chair of the Strategic Board of the Standing Committee of Analysts.

The DWI released its last annual report under the leadership of Professor Colbourne last week. It revealed that public water supplies in England and Wales remain amongst the highest quality in the world, with only 0.04% of the DWI’s tests on public supplies in England, and 0.02% of its tests in Wales, showing water that failed to meet legislative standards in 2014.