The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is the independent regulator of drinking water quality in England and Wales. Established by Parliament in 1990, the strategic objective is to protect public health and maintain public confidence by securing safe and clean drinking water, now and for future generations.
The powers and duties under which the Inspectorate operates are established in legislation and are wide-ranging, covering all aspects of the quality and sufficiency of water together with duties in regard of network and information systems of public water supplies as delegated by the Secretary of State and Welsh ministers. Statutory duties in relation to private supplies for the provision of technical advice to local authorities and the authority of appeal are provided on behalf of the Secretary of State and Welsh ministers.
The Inspectorate produces its own independent reports for ministers in both England and Wales; reporting on the operational performance of the water companies that it regulates in both countries, and on the performance of local authorities in their duties with respect to private water supplies. These cover assessment of the results of monitoring of drinking water supplied by the water companies’ month by month; investigation of notified events; and site visits and meetings with companies to audit technical operating practices, procedures and policies for compliance with regulation and enforcement notices. In addition to the statutory function, further non-statutory functions are provided, including an evidence programme; consumer and media advice on information about drinking water safety and regulation as well as the running of an independent website.
The Network and Information Systems Regulations (NIS) (2018) extended the original Drinking Water Supply regulations to include greater emphasis on the security and reliability of information systems which control drinking water production or delivery, with particular regard to the modern-day threat of cyber security.
The main responsibility of the DWI NIS team is to ensure that the 17 drinking water companies in England and Wales (that are currently within scope of the NIS regulations) take appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to manage any risks posed to the security of their network and information systems. This includes the cyber and physical security of assets on which their essential service of drinking water provision relies.
The Inspectorate regularly needs to respond to an evolving risk picture, or incidents which impact on the water network. Therefore the post holder will need to be flexible and able to adapt quickly to changing work priorities and may be required to participate in the Inspectorate’s response to a security incident. This may include out of hours working on occasion, but the Inspectorate makes every effort to allow for individual personal circumstances and offers a range of flexible working options including remote working and some working from home.
* Evaluation of annual self assessments by Operators of Essential Service (OES) against the Cyber Assessment Framework.
* Logging and assessment of any reported incidents from the sector.
* Scoping of, preparation for and completion of verification audits with selected OESs.
* Making recommendations regarding any enforcement action that might be required to address gaps in compliance.
* Preparation of new and revision of existing guidance for OES on meeting the requirements of NIS.
* Preparation of the annual reports on compliance against NIS and the activities of the Inspectorate in England and Wales for Ministers.
* Routine liaison with Inspectorate colleagues, Defra, Welsh Government and OESs.
* Contribution towards regular internal performance and financial reports.
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