Lee Brooks appointed Head of Technical & Compliance at Water Regs UK

Water Regs UK is pleased to announce the appointment of Lee Brooks as Head of Technical & Compliance, effective 13th July 2026. Lee succeeds Paul Millard, who is retiring from his role as Technical Manager after many years of dedicated service to the organisation and the wider industry.

Lee joins Water Regs UK with over a decade of experience in the Water Fittings Regulations and byelaws, having worked across approvals, enforcement, regulatory liaison, and technical leadership roles. He began his career with the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS), working within the Approvals and Enquiries team, where he developed a strong grounding in the Regulator’s Specification, British Standards, and the relationships between manufacturers and certification schemes.

Lee later joined Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, progressing through a series of technical and leadership positions within the Water Regulations function, culminating in his appointment as Water Regulations Technical Manager in 2023. In this time, he has built trusted relationships with subscribers and stakeholders across the industry, contributing regularly to Water Regs UK’s objectives through membership of the Technical Group and other best‑practice forums.

Most recently, Lee has been seconded into a Drinking Water Quality transformation programme, shifting focus into a different regulatory space. In this role, he has coordinated regulatory correspondence, supported procedural improvements, and strengthened cross‑functional collaboration on drinking water quality matters with an emphasis on public health.

Before entering the water industry, Lee trained as a pipefitter in the engineering construction sector, working on complex pipework installations in the nuclear, oil and gas industries, as well as mechanical plant maintenance and boiler overhauls at coal‑fired power stations. This early experience gave him a practical understanding of engineering systems, installation practice, and safety‑critical environments.

In his new role at Water Regs UK, Lee will lead on standards development, external stakeholder liaison, monitoring of regulatory and policy activity, and representation on relevant committees. He will also provide technical oversight of the Water Industry Approved Plumbers Scheme (WIAPS) and the WaterSafe Register, supporting compliance, consistency, and industry competence.

Speaking about his appointment, Lee said:

“I’m extremely proud to be given this opportunity and excited to be working with subscribers in an area I’m genuinely passionate about.

The water industry is approaching a period of significant regulatory change, and while there are still many questions around what this will mean in the years ahead, it’s also an exciting time. I’m looking forward to being the eyes and ears for subscribers through this period — helping to keep them informed and up to date with the latest technical developments and what they could mean in practice.”

Water Regs UK looks forward to welcoming Lee into his new role and continuing to strengthen technical leadership, regulatory confidence, and industry collaboration across the sector.