Chief Inspector's Report 2002

16 South Staffordshire Water Plc

Overall Water Quality supplied by South Staffordshire Water Plc in 2002
A total of 38,776 tests were carried out on samples taken by South Staffordshire Water Plc in 2002. Of these tests, 99.92% complied with the Regulations.
	Company Information Amount of Water Supplied: 336 Ml/d Consumers Supplied: 1.2 million Areas of Supply: Ashbourne (Derbyshire) in the north to Halesowen (Worcestershire) in the south, and Tamworth in the east to the M5 motorway in the west. Water Composition: 50% from rivers and reservoirs   50% from boreholes and aquifers Treatment Works: 22 Service Reservoirs: 37 Km of Mains: 5,828 Water Supply Zones: 40

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

To be wholesome, water must comply with the standards for the parameters set out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. In 2002, the Company carried out a total of 38,776 tests on samples taken at water treatment works, from service reservoirs and in water supply zones and of these, 99.92% complied with the relevant water quality standards set down in the Regulations. A list of the parameters, the relevant standards and their significance can be found at the beginning of this section.

Water Quality leaving Treatment works

A failure of the coliform standard at one treatment works in 2002 was considered trivial. There were no failures of the faecal coliform standard in 2002. Differences over the last three years in the number of treatment works, and in the number of tests carried out on samples from treatment works, in which coliforms or faecal coliforms were detected were not considered significant.

In 2002, 859 regulatory samples for Cryptosporidium were taken at one site. Very low numbers of oocysts were detected in four samples from the site. All results were well below the treatment standard and there were no reported outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis.

Water Quality in Service Reservoirs

Coliforms were absent from at least 95% of samples taken at all of the Company's 37 service reservoirs. There were no failures of the faecal coliform standard at any of the service reservoirs during 2002. Differences over the last three years in the number of service reservoirs, and in the number of tests carried out on samples from service reservoirs, in which coliforms were detected were not considered significant.

Water Quality in Water Supply Zones

The table below shows the data for the key parameters and any other parameters where there was a failure of the standard. All other parameters were fully compliant.

The New Regulations

In 2002, the Company carried out monitoring for the six new parametric values set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000. These Regulations come into force on 25 December 2003. The results are shown in the table below.

Compliance data for 2002 has also been analysed against the revised standards and the results are shown in the following table.

Details of the new and revised standards, and the reasons for the revisions where applicable, can be found in chapter J "New Regulations and Associated Programmes of Work".

1From 25.12.03

2 From 25.12.13

Company Audit and Inspection

The Company was inspected or audited by the Inspectorate or its appointed consultants on a number of occasions during 2002. Where relevant, report summaries are available in the 'Business and Technical' section of the Inspectorate's web site under 'Audit and Inspection'.

A number of 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, one of the service reservoirs, sampling procedures and progress with regulatory programmes of work.

Incidents

The Inspectorate regarded five of the events notified during 2002 by the Company as incidents. For further details on the classification of incidents, see chapter C "Events affecting Water Quality" in Part 3.

All five of the incidents have been assessed by the Inspectorate. Each was of short duration and the Company has taken appropriate remedial action. A number of recommendations were made regarding procedures and operational practice.

Enforcement Action

No enforcement action was considered for the Company as a result of the Inspectorate's activities during 2002.

Undertakings and other Improvement Programmes

Water treatment works and service reservoirs

Two Regulation 41 programmes of work to meet the new and revised standards set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 were due for completion in 2002. These were to install treatment at Hagley and Trent Valley to remove nitrate. One of the programmes was completed on schedule. At the other site, water leaving the works complies with the new standards and the Inspectorate has issued a new statement of intent.

Four statements of intent to reduce the risk of Cryptosporidium breaching the treatment standards were due for completion during 2002. The programmes were completed on schedule.

No other improvement programmes were due for completion during 2002.

Distribution

The Company has no ongoing distribution system improvement programme currently in place.

Lead

The Company has a Regulation 41 programme of work to meet the revised standard for lead set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000, which will come into force on 25 December 2003. Progress with the delivery of the programme is monitored by the Inspectorate and has been satisfactory.