Water fittings: preventing backflow of water from toilet cisterns
Seeking views on updating toilet specifications to stop cistern water from re-entering drinking water in properties and to understand the causes of leaking toilet valves.
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.