South East Water PLC
Overall Water Quality supplied by South East Water in 2000
A total of 72,824 tests were carried out by South East Water in 2000. Of these tests, 99.76% complied with the Regulations.
Company Information Amount of Water Supplied: 370 Ml/d Consumers Supplied: 1.4 million Areas of Supply: Parts of Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex and West Kent. Water Composition: 28% from rivers and reservoirs 72% from boreholes and aquifers Treatment Works: 63 Service Reservoirs: 172 Km of Mains: 9,554 Water Supply Zones: 90 Water Quality in Water Supply Zones, at Treatment Works, and in Service Reservoirs
Water supply zones
- In general, to be wholesome, water must comply with the standards set out in the Regulations. The Company carried out a total of 44,118 tests on samples taken in its 90 water supply zones. The table below includes only the parameters that breached the standard. All other parameters fully complied with the standards. Parameter meanings can be found at the beginning of this section.
- The last column indicates the number of failures in zones already covered by legally binding undertakings given by the Company to carry out remedial works to overcome the difficulty in meeting the individual standard.
Parameter
Total Samples taken
Samples not meeting the standard
Percentage
Number of failures already covered by Undertakings
Total coliforms
4,045
42
1.04
-
Faecal coliforms
4,045
4
0.10
-
Aluminium
430
1
0.23
-
Iron
971
25
2.57
21
Manganese
464
3
0.65
1
Lead
231
1
0.43
-
PAH
290
32
11.03
1
Prochloraz
542
1
0.18
-
Treatment works
Of the Company's 63 treatment works, 52 (83%) complied fully with the relevant standards. Failures of the standard for total coliforms at one works have resulted in consideration of enforcement action. All other failures at treatment works were considered trivial and unlikely to recur. Over the last three years, there has been a significant increase in the number of treatment works, and samples from treatment works, in which total and faecal coliforms were detected. Service reservoirs
At 169 (98%) of the Company's 172 service reservoirs, coliforms were absent from at least 95% of samples. Failures of the standard for total coliforms at one service reservoir have resulted in consideration of enforcement action. All other failures at service reservoirs were considered trivial and unlikely to recur. Over the last three years, there has been a significant increase in the number of service reservoirs, and samples from service reservoirs, in which total coliforms were detected. All other differences were not considered significant. Company Audit and Inspection Link to expanded information (web site version)
- The Company was inspected or audited by DWI or its appointed consultants on six occasions in 2000. Where relevant, report summaries are available in the ‘Business and Technical’ section of DWI’s web site under ‘Audit and Inspection’.
Title
Date
Annual assessment of 1999 compliance data
April/May
Audit of plumbosolvency treatment and control programmes of work
November
Audit trails of five samples
November
Follow-up of response to recommendations and handling of water quality complaints
November
Review of procedures for operation and maintenance of the distribution network
December
Inspection of distribution system improvement programme progress.
Ongoing
No major deficiencies were identified but a number of recommendations were made regarding analytical systems and procedures for the operation and maintenance of the distribution network Incidents
- The Inspectorate regarded seven of the events notified during 2000 by the Company as incidents in which drinking water quality demonstrably deteriorated.
- All of the incidents have been assessed by DWI. Each was of short duration and the Company has taken appropriate remedial action. No recommendations were necessary.
Nature of Incident
No. of Incidents
Assessment by DWI completed
Areas Affected
Supply of discoloured water
2
Yes
Pevensey Bay (July), Shottermill (November)
Wholesomeness concern following microbiological failures in distribution
3
Yes
Beenhams Heath (April), Ardingley (May and June)
Wholesomeness concern following microbiological failures at a service reservoir
2
Yes
Burgess Hill (February), Nutley (March)
Improvement Programmes
Carried Out by the Company
- One remedial programme was due for full completion during 2000 and this was completed on schedule.
- The ongoing distribution system improvement programmes due for completion in 2005, which have been implemented by the Company, have been progressing satisfactorily.
Enforcement Action
- The table below indicates areas where DWI is considering, or has taken enforcement action for, breaches of regulations.
Parameter/Area
Number
Regulation Breached
Total coliforms
1 works, 1 reservoir
Regulation 3(7)
Total coliforms
3 Zones
Regulation 3(3)(c)
Submission of annual compliance data
All treatment works, service reservoirs and zones
Water Undertakers (Information) Direction 1998 paragraph 3.
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Drinking Water Inspectorate,
Floor 2/A1, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE
Telephone : 020 7944 5956 - Facsimile : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi_enquiries@detr.gov.uk
Published11 July 2001
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