The Farmers' Union of Wales has demanded that the new Welsh Government overturn regulations which will cost growing numbers of residents using private water supplies hundreds of pounds per annum.
In a letter to environment minister John Griffiths, FUW president Emyr Jones describes a requirement for local authorities to test private water supplies supplying more than one private residence as 'intrusive and dictatorial', and representing 'a significant and unacceptable cost to Welsh households at a time of major recession.'
Mr Jones said the requirement demonstrated an unacceptable appetite for red-tape and gold-plating EU rules under the previous Welsh government, and has called on the new administration to follow through on its commitments to reduce bureaucracy by applying an EU exemption currently allowed in Scotland.
The Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations came into force in February 2010, and must be complied with by 2015. It requires local authorities to undertake 5 yearly risk assessments and regular sampling, at least once a year, of spring water supplied to more than one private residence, with a test being undertaken separately in each residence. The maximum charges for monitoring and sampling are £500 and £100 respectively.
Speaking at the Denbigh and Flint show today (Thursday , 18 August) Mr Jones said: "At the time of its introduction, the regulation was fiercely opposed by the FUW, and we called for an exemption allowed under the EU Directive to be applied allowing private residences to opt out of the regulation where a single water source did not supply more than 50 persons."
The Union claims that the position in Wales stands in stark contrast to that in Scotland, where the government opted to apply the exemptions in recognition of the views and needs of its residents.
"The EU Directive specifically catered for the freedom of individuals to make their own choices regarding the water they drink, and the severe impact a draconian requirement would have in regions such as Wales, where large numbers of private residences rely on spring water.
"Yet the previous Welsh government chose to ignore this provision, demonstrating an appetite for gold-plating EU directives and implementing intrusive and dictatorial rules.
"Many of our members' families have been drinking their own natural spring water for generations with no adverse effects, and are confident that their water is of a higher standard than mains water.
"Now they are being forced to pay vast sums to local authorities for tests and risk assessments which are undertaken against their will. It is very much a big brother scenario instigated by the previous Welsh government".
Mr Jones' letter also highlighted the extra costs that the regulation could represent for local authorities at a time of major cuts to funding.
"I have no doubt that many local authority staff are also appalled at the intrusive nature of this regulation and the possible implications in terms of costs.
"The new Welsh government must act now to show it is capable of respecting the rights of individual families and good old fashioned common-sense," added Mr Jones