Innovation Meets Regulation: DWI's Vision for Water Safety with Dr. Marcus Rink

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark speaks with Dr. Marcus Rink, Chief Inspector at the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), about his career path from medical science into the water industry and his progression at DWI to Chief Inspector in 2015. Marcus explains the statutory role of DWI across England and Wales in policing drinking water quality, sufficiency, security, emergency management, and network information systems to ensure wholesome water delivery, describing the inspector-led audit and investigation model, staffing, and workload. He discusses regulatory transition toward a more unified approach, limited post-Brexit change to water quality rules, and the use of guidance to address PFAS. The conversation highlights risk-based regulation enabling innovation such as real-time microbial monitoring via flow cytometry, and future priorities including water reuse and system connectivity.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:26 Marcus Career Journey01:29 Joining the DWI02:22 Chief Inspector Role04:08 How DWI Polices Safety05:16 Team Size and Workload06:05 Regulatory Transition Plans07:19 Brexit and PFAS Approach09:17 Innovation and Monitoring11:03 Future Horizon Reuse12:00 Regulation Meets Research13:00 Advice to Younger Self14:10 Wrap Up and ThanksDr. Marcus Rink mentions flow cytometry as an innovative way to undertake continuous monitoring of bacteriological contamination. One of the leading suppliers of flow cytometry equipment is bNovate.bNovate Technologies SA is a Swiss technology company transforming microbiological water monitoring from a delayed laboratory process into real-time operational insight. Its automated BactoSense platform, powered by proprietary flow cytometry technology, delivers reliable microbial water quality data within minutes instead of days, helping operators detect change early, respond faster, and stay in control. Used across drinking water, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and industrial applications, bNovate’s solutions support safer water, stronger compliance, and more efficient operations. Connected through BactoCloud, data becomes instantly accessible, traceable and audit-ready across sites and teams. With more than 500 installations worldwide, over 70 peer-reviewed publications, and growing global adoption, bNovate is helping water professionals move from manual, reactive testing to continuous, data-driven microbiology. Please contact [email protected] for more information or visit www.bnovate.com