Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing guidance to households on the potential impact of significant plumbing alterations on (a) water quality and (b) associated exposure pathways.

The Water Fittings Regulations protect human health by preventing fittings from being installed, connected, arranged or used in such a manner that it causes or is likely to cause contamination of drinking water supplies.  Defra would recommend that anyone making alterations to their plumbing should use a Watersafe plumber. The Watersafe website provides a free directory of competent, qualified plumbers.