UK Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Drinking Water 2001

A report by the Chief Inspector
Drinking Water Inspectorate

1 Anglian Water Services Limited

Overall Water Quality supplied by Anglian Water Services Limited in 2001

A total of 205,516 tests were carried out by Anglian Water Services Limited in 2001.

Of these tests, 99.64% complied with the Regulations.

Company Information

Amount of Water Supplied: 1,200 Ml/d

Consumers Supplied: 4.1 million

Areas of Supply: East Anglia, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and parts of Essex, Buckinghamshire and Nottinghamshire

Water Composition: 48% from rivers and reservoirs 52% from boreholes and aquifers

Treatment Works: 146

Service Reservoirs: 385

Km of Mains: 35,995

Water Supply Zones: 189

Water Quality in Water Supply Zones, at Treatment Works, and in Service Reservoirs

Water supply zones

To be wholesome, water must comply with the standards set out in the Regulations. The Company carried out a total of 136,090 tests on samples taken in its 189 water supply zones. The table below includes only the parameters that breached the standard; all other parameters were fully compliant. A list of these parameters and their 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. These undertakings required remedial work to be carried out to ensure compliance with the individual standard.

Parameter Total samples taken Samples not meeting the standard Percentage Number of failures already covered by undertakings

Total coliforms 13,094 50 0.38 0

Faecal coliforms 13,094 3 0.02 0

Turbidity 8,103 4 0.05 0

Nitrate 4,467 23 0.51 23

Nitrite 5,327 600* 11.26 0

Iron 5,453 21 0.39 14

Manganese 3,370 1 0.03 0

Lead 1,226 3 0.25 0

PAH 404 11 2.72 0

Faecal streptococci 773 1 0.13 0

Temperature 12,562 1 0.01 0

*Improvement programmes are in hand to meet the revised standard for nitrite/nitrate set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000.

Treatment works

Of the Company's 146 treatment works, 143 (98%) complied fully with the relevant standards. Failures of the standards at three works were considered trivial. Differences over the last three years in the number of treatment works, and samples from treatment works, in which coliforms or faecal coliforms were detected were not considered significant.

Service reservoirs

At all of the Company's 385 service reservoirs, coliforms were absent from at least 95% of samples. Failures of the faecal coliform standard at two service reservoirs were considered trivial. Differences over the last three years in the number of service reservoirs, and samples from service reservoirs, in which coliforms or faecal coliforms were detected were not considered significant.

Cryptosporidium

The Company carried out a total of 1,624 tests on samples taken from five sites. Very low numbers of oocysts were detected in six (0.37%) samples taken from one site. All results were well below the treatment standard and there were no associated outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis.

Company Audit and Inspection

The Company was inspected or audited by the Inspectorate or its appointed consultants on a number of occasions during 2001. Where relevant, report summaries are available in the 'Business and Technical' section of the web site under 'Audit and Inspection'.

Eight recommendations were made in respect of action required to avoid the risk of a breach of a regulatory duty. These recommendations were in relation to the audit trails, the treatment works, the operation and management of the distribution system and incident notification.

Seven recommendations for improvements were made in respect of the distribution undertaking and plumbosolvency treatment for lead.

Audit or Inspection Date

Audit of procedures for operation and maintenance of the distribution system January

Audit of incident notification procedures February

Review of policies and procedures on contaminated land September

Audit trails of ten samples September

Inspection of two water treatment works and two service reservoirs September

Audit of procedures for compliance with Regulation 25 September

Review of progress with the distribution undertaking October

Review of plumbosolvency treatment and control programmes of work November

Audit of all Cryptosporidium sampling sites Various dates during the year

Incidents

The Inspectorate regarded 14 of the events notified during 2001 by Anglian Water Services Limited as incidents. For further details on the classification of incidents see Chapter C, 'Events affecting Water Quality', in Part 3.

Twelve of the incidents have been assessed by the Inspectorate. Each was of short duration and Anglian Water Services Limited has taken appropriate remedial action. Five recommendations were made regarding sampling and procedures.

During the 2001 reporting period, assessment was also completed for three incidents which occurred in 2000.

Two incident assessments from 2001 remain under consideration.

Nature of incident

No.of incidents

Assessment completed
by DWI

Areas affected

Supply of discoloured water

4

Yes

Brundall (January);

Yes

Sandy (October);

No

Bilinghay (May);

No

Thetford North (December)

Chemical contamination of
supplies

1

Yes

Cowbit (September)

Chemical contamination of consumers’ service
pipes

2

Yes

Husborne Crawley (February);

Long Melford (September)

Microbiological contamination of supplies

6

Yes

Stoke Goldington (June); Corby (July);
Wrawby (August); Podington (August);
Fairstead (September); Ipswich East
(September)

Supply of water with taste and odour

1

Yes

Long Stratton (April)

Prosecutions

The Inspectorate initiated one prosecution against the Company relating to a discoloured water incident which occurred in 2000 and affected parts of Meppershall, Bedfordshire. The Company pleaded guilty to supplying water unfit for human consumption. Further information can be found in Chapter C, 'Events affecting Water Quality', in Part 3.

Improvement Programmes

One remedial programme of work was due for completion during 2001. This was to install treatment at North Pickenham Works to remove nitrate. The programme was completed on schedule.

The ongoing distribution system improvement programme has been progressing satisfactorily. During 2000 and 2001, 578 km of mains have been renovated. The Company is required to renovate a further 316 km of mains by September 2002.

The Company has improvement programmes to meet the new and revised standards set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000, which will come into force on 25 December 2003. These relate to bromate at five sites and nitrate/nitrite at one site, plus additional work required to meet the new standard for lead. The Company also has programmes of work to reduce any potential risk from Cryptosporidium oocysts at 19 sites. Four of these were completed during 2001. Progress with delivery of the remaining programmes is monitored by the Inspectorate, and has been satisfactory.

Enforcement Action

No enforcement action was considered for the Company as a result of the Inspectorate's activities during 2001.

Table 1.1 Anglian Water Services Limited
MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER LEAVING TREATMENT WORKS

2001 2000 1999

Number of water treatment works 146 139 140

Works with no sampling shortfall 146 139 140

COLIFORMS

Total number of determinations 14,177 14,768 14,645

- number containing coliforms 3 7 8

- % containing coliforms 0.2 <0.1 <0.1

Treatment works with coliforms detected 3 7 7

- % of all works 2.05 5.04 5.0

FAECAL COLIFORMS

Total number of determinations 14,177 14,768 14,645

- number containing faecal coliforms 0 0 0

- % containing faecal coliforms 0.0 0.0 <0.10

Treatment works with faecal coliforms detected 0 0 0

- % of all works 0.0 0.0 0.0

Table 1.2 Anglian Water Services Limited
MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER IN SERVICE RESERVOIRS

2001 2000 1999

Number of service reservoirs 385 380 385

Service reservoirs with no sampling shortfall 385 380 384

COLIFORMS

Total number of determinations 20,536 20,464 20,540

- number containing coliforms 27 31 29

- % containing coliforms 0.13 0.2 0.1

Service reservoirs with coliforms detected 25 26 25

Service reservoirs with coliforms detected in more than 5% of samples 0 0 1

- % of all service reservoirs 0.00 0.0 <1

FAECAL COLIFORMS

Total number of determinations 20,536 20,464 20,540

- number containing faecal coliforms 2 1 7

- % containing faecal coliforms 0.01 <0.1 <0.1

Service reservoirs with faecal coliforms detected 2 1 7

- % of all service reservoirs 0.52 0.3 2

Table 1.3 Anglian Water Services Limited
WATER QUALITY IN SUPPLY ZONES

Columns 'CBU' show, for determinations, contraventions covered by undertakings and, for zones, the total number of zones covered by undertakings in 2001. Column 'E' shows the number of zones for which new enforcement action is under consideration as a result of contraventions of the PCV in 2001.

PARAMETER DETERMINATIONS in 2001 ZONES (189 in 2001)^*

Total Contravening PCV Non-compliant

No. % CBU CBU E Number in:

2001 2001 2000 1999

Coliforms 13,094 50 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0

Faecal coliforms 13,094 3 <0.0 0 0 0 3 5 4

Colour 3,033 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Turbidity 8,103 4 <0.0 0 0 0 4 3 9

Odour 956 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Taste 955 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Hydrogen ion 8,091 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Nitrate 4,467 23 0.5 23 1 0 1 1 1

Nitrite 5,327 600 11.3 0 0 0 56 59 55

Aluminium 3,155 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Iron 5,453 21 0.4 14 13 0 20 18 29

Manganese 3,370 1 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 2

Lead 1,226 3 0.2 0 0 0 3 0 0

PAH 404 11 2.7 0 0 0 8 15 17

Trihalomethanes 282 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total pesticides 2,027 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other pesticides 23,931 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ammonium 3,147 0 <0.0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Copper 769 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Faecal streptococci 773 1 0.1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Phosphorous 2,337 0 <0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Potassium 837 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Temperature 12,562 1 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 1

All others 18,697 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 136,090 718 0.53% 37 - - - - -

^*189 zones in 2000, 194 zones in 1999.

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Drinking Water Inspectorate,
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Telephone : 020 7944 5956 - Facsimile : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi.enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Published 10 July 2002
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Parameter	Total samples taken	Samples not meeting the standard	Percentage	Number of failures already covered by undertakings
Total coliforms	13,094	50	0.38	0
Faecal coliforms	13,094	3	0.02	0
Turbidity	8,103	4	0.05	0
Nitrate	4,467	23	0.51	23
Nitrite	5,327	600*	11.26	0
Iron	5,453	21	0.39	14
Manganese	3,370	1	0.03	0
Lead	1,226	3	0.25	0
PAH	404	11	2.72	0
Faecal streptococci	773	1	0.13	0
Temperature	12,562	1	0.01	0

Audit or Inspection	Date
Audit of procedures for operation and maintenance of the distribution system	January
Audit of incident notification procedures	February
Review of policies and procedures on contaminated land	September
Audit trails of ten samples	September
Inspection of two water treatment works and two service reservoirs	September
Audit of procedures for compliance with Regulation 25	September
Review of progress with the distribution undertaking	October
Review of plumbosolvency treatment and control programmes of work	November
Audit of all Cryptosporidium sampling sites	Various dates during the year

Nature of incident	No.of incidents	Assessment completed by DWI	Areas affected
Supply of discoloured water	4	Yes	Brundall (January);
		Yes	Sandy (October);
		No	Bilinghay (May);
		No	Thetford North (December)

Chemical contamination of supplies	1	Yes	Cowbit (September)

Chemical contamination of consumers’ service pipes	2	Yes	Husborne Crawley (February);
			Long Melford (September)

Microbiological contamination of supplies	6	Yes	Stoke Goldington (June); Corby (July); Wrawby (August); Podington (August); Fairstead (September); Ipswich East (September)

Supply of water with taste and odour	1	Yes	Long Stratton (April)

Table 1.1 Anglian Water Services Limited MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER LEAVING TREATMENT WORKS

	2001	2000	1999
Number of water treatment works	146	139	140
Works with no sampling shortfall	146	139	140

COLIFORMS
Total number of determinations	14,177	14,768	14,645
- number containing coliforms	3	7	8
- % containing coliforms	0.2	<0.1	<0.1
Treatment works with coliforms detected	3	7	7
- % of all works	2.05	5.04	5.0

FAECAL COLIFORMS
Total number of determinations	14,177	14,768	14,645
- number containing faecal coliforms	0	0	0
- % containing faecal coliforms	0.0	0.0	<0.10
Treatment works with faecal coliforms detected	0	0	0
- % of all works	0.0	0.0	0.0

Table 1.2 Anglian Water Services Limited MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER IN SERVICE RESERVOIRS

	2001	2000	1999
Number of service reservoirs	385	380	385
Service reservoirs with no sampling shortfall	385	380	384

COLIFORMS
Total number of determinations	20,536	20,464	20,540
- number containing coliforms	27	31	29
- % containing coliforms	0.13	0.2	0.1
Service reservoirs with coliforms detected	25	26	25
Service reservoirs with coliforms detected in more than 5% of samples	0	0	1
- % of all service reservoirs	0.00	0.0	<1

FAECAL COLIFORMS
Total number of determinations	20,536	20,464	20,540
- number containing faecal coliforms	2	1	7
- % containing faecal coliforms	0.01	<0.1	<0.1
Service reservoirs with faecal coliforms detected	2	1	7
- % of all service reservoirs	0.52	0.3	2

Table 1.3 Anglian Water Services Limited WATER QUALITY IN SUPPLY ZONES

Columns 'CBU' show, for determinations, contraventions covered by undertakings and, for zones, the total number of zones covered by undertakings in 2001. Column 'E' shows the number of zones for which new enforcement action is under consideration as a result of contraventions of the PCV in 2001.

PARAMETER	DETERMINATIONS in 2001				ZONES (189 in 2001)^*
	Total	Contravening PCV				Non-compliant
		No.	%	CBU	CBU	E	Number in:
					2001		2001	2000	1999
Coliforms	13,094	50	0.4	0	0	0	0	0	0
Faecal coliforms	13,094	3	<0.0	0	0	0	3	5	4
Colour	3,033	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Turbidity	8,103	4	<0.0	0	0	0	4	3	9
Odour	956	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Taste	955	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Hydrogen ion	8,091	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nitrate	4,467	23	0.5	23	1	0	1	1	1
Nitrite	5,327	600	11.3	0	0	0	56	59	55
Aluminium	3,155	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Iron	5,453	21	0.4	14	13	0	20	18	29
Manganese	3,370	1	0.0	0	0	0	1	0	2
Lead	1,226	3	0.2	0	0	0	3	0	0
PAH	404	11	2.7	0	0	0	8	15	17
Trihalomethanes	282	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total pesticides	2,027	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Other pesticides	23,931	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ammonium	3,147	0	<0.0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Copper	769	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Faecal streptococci	773	1	0.1	0	0	0	1	0	0
Phosphorous	2,337	0	<0.0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Potassium	837	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Temperature	12,562	1	0.0	0	0	0	1	0	1
All others	18,697	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOTAL	136,090	718	0.53%	37	-	-	-	-	-
^*189 zones in 2000, 194 zones in 1999.

Drinking Water 2001

A report by the Chief InspectorDrinking Water Inspectorate

1 Anglian Water Services Limited

Water Quality in Water Supply Zones, at Treatment Works, and in Service Reservoirs

Water supply zones

Treatment works

Service reservoirs

Cryptosporidium

Company Audit and Inspection

Incidents

Prosecutions

Improvement Programmes

Enforcement Action

A report by the Chief Inspector
Drinking Water Inspectorate