Water fittings: preventing backflow of water from toilet cisterns
Applies to England and Wales
Detail of feedback received
This consultation closed on 3 October. We received 42 responses to the consultation, which have been analysed and carefully considered.
The government need to notify the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as a potential technical barrier to trade and the European Union, as required under the Northern Ireland Protocol because these changes are relevant to compliance in Northern Ireland.
Once this is complete, the government will publish the summary of responses, along with the final Regulator Specifications and test code sheets. We expect to publish them in summer 2023.
Consultation description
We want to know what you think about Defra’s proposed changes to 11 specifications made under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
These regulations are needed to protect human health from contaminated drinking water. We need to update the specifications to reflect modern toilet designs.
One change will introduce a new backflow prevention arrangement in the toilet cistern. Another will introduce a new test to ensure that water from the toilet pan cannot contaminate the water in the cistern.
The other changes will make the rules consistent and clearer and focus on how a product must perform.
We also want to gather evidence on faulty toilet valves that cause a loss of water and look at what could be done to improve these products.
Last updated 19 December 2022 + show all updates
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The response to this consultation has been delayed.
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First published.