To be wholesome, water must comply with the water quality standards for the parameters set out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. In 2003, the Company carried out a total of 121,477 tests on samples of water leaving its 25 water treatment works, from its 110 service reservoirs and from consumers’ taps in its 66 water supply zones. Of these, 99.93% (121,395) complied with the standards set down in the Regulations. However, 0.07% (82) tests did not meet the standards. 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 comparison of the Company’s performance in 2003 with data for 2002 and 2001, is given below. 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.

During 2003, three failures of the total coliform standard at three works were considered trivial. Four failures of the total coliform standard at Langford and Layer water treatment works were not trivial but are unlikely to recur as the Company has taken remedial action.

One failure of the faecal coliform standard occurred at one works. This was regarded as trivial and unlikely to recur.

In 2003, 1,374 regulatory samples for Cryptosporidium were taken at four sites. Very low numbers of oocysts were detected in three samples from two sites. All results were well below the treatment standard and there were no reported outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis.

Water quality in service reservoirs

A comparison of the Company’s performance in 2003 with data for 2002 and 2001, is given below. 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 or faecal coliforms were detected, were not considered significant.

During 2003, total coliforms were detected at six service reservoirs. However, there were no failures of the total coliform or faecal coliform standard at any service reservoir.

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. A comparison is also given for parameters failing the standards in 2002 and 2001.

 

Parameter	Total number of tests	Tests not meeting standard		Number of failures covered by Undertakings	Number of zones not complying with the standards (number of zones in 2003 = 66)*
		No	%		2003	2002	2001
Coliforms	4,500	14	0.31	0	0	0	0
Faecal coliforms	4,500	0	0.00	0	0	3	2
Colour	996	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Turbidity	576	0	0.00	0	0	1	0
Odour	538	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Taste	538	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Hydrogen ion	996	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Nitrate	2,140	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Nitrite	2,092	31	1.48	0	14	8	13
Aluminium	564	0	0.00	0	0	1	0
Iron	1532	1	0.07	1	1	4	1
Manganese	568	1	0.18	0	1	1	0
Lead	996	2	0.20	0	2	2	1
PAH	274	2	0.73	0	1	1	0
Trihalomethanes	337	3	0.89	0	3	0	0
Total pesticides	2,024	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Carbetamide	2,024	0	0.00	0	0	11	0
Other pesticides	64,780	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Nickel	66	0	0.00	0	0	0	1
Phosphorus	978	9	0.92	0	8	0	0
Temperature	1,028	4	0.39	0	4	0	0
Total Hardness	275	1	0.36	0	1	1	0
All others	8,525	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
TOTAL	100,847	68	0.07
*66 zones in 2002 and 2001

 

The fifth column indicates the number of failures in zones already covered by legally binding undertakings given by the Company. These undertakings are given by the Company and require remedial work to be carried out to ensure compliance with the individual standard.

The new Regulations

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

Parameter	Total number of tests	New standard	Tests not meeting the new standard
Benzene	101	1.0 µg/l	0
Bromate	248	10.0 µg/l	0
1,2 dichloroethane	101	3.0 µg/l	0
Nitrite (exwater treatment works)	101	0.1 mg/l	0
Clostridium perfringens	71	0/100ml	0
Enterococci	248	0/100ml	0

Compliance data for 2003 have also been analysed against the revised standards and the results are shown in the following table.

Parameter	Total number of tests			Current Standard	Number of tests not meeting current standard	Revised Standard	Number of tests not meeting revised standard
Antimony		66		10.0 µg/l	0	5.0 µg/l	0
Arsenic		66		50.0 µg/l	0	10.0 µg/l	0
Boron		66		2.0 mg/l	0	1.0 mg/l	0
Copper		264		3.0 mg/l	0	2.0 mg/l	0
Lead		996		50.0 µg/l	2	25.0 µg/l	6
						10.0 µg/l*	23
Nickel		66		50.0 µg/l	0	20.0 µg/l	0
Nitrite (at consumers’ taps)			2,092	0.1 mg/l	31	0.5 mg/l	0
PAH			274	0.2 µg/l	2	0.1 µg/l	0
Tetrachloroethene Trichloroethene			272 272	10.0 µg/ l 30.0 µg/l	0 0	} 10.0 µg/l	0
* Final standard not applicable until 2013

During 2003, the Company had in place programmes of work to meet the new and revised standards.

Details of the new and revised standards can be found in chapter J ‘New Regulations and Associated Programmes of Work’.

Audit and inspection

The Company was inspected or audited by the Inspectorate or its appointed consultants on a number of occasions during 2003. Where relevant, report summaries are available in the ‘Business and Technical’ section of the Inspectorate’s website under ‘Audit and inspection’. Details of the subject areas audited or inspected are given in the following paragraphs:

Follow up of recommendations made during the 2002 inspections or in connection with water quality incidents

Steps have been taken to implement all of the recommendations arising from the 2002 Audit and inspection process and from assessments of water quality incidents.

Audit of regulatory Cryptosporidium monitoring sites

The monitoring equipment at all regulatory sites visited during the year was found to be satisfactory.

Audit of regulatory Cryptosporidium samplers

The audit of one of the samplers responsible for taking regulatory Cryptosporidium samples was satisfactory.

Inspection of laboratory analysing for Cryptosporidium

An unannounced audit on the Company’s Cryptosporidium laboratory was satisfactory.

The announced audit on the Company’s Cryptosporidium laboratory identified one regulatory breach as well as two minor deficiencies associated with the Standard Operating Protocol. The Company’s laboratory has taken the required remedial action to rectify the deficiencies identified.

Audit of progress with water treatmenter treatment works improvement programmes

A desk top audit of three schemes associated with improvement programmes at water treatment works was carried out together with one site visit. The schemes were for: THM at Ormesby treatment works, THM at Lound works and nitrate at Langford works (scheme was actually completed by end of 2002). Progress with all three schemes was considered satisfactory.

Review of distribution system undertaking

Progress has been made with the programme of mains renovation set out in the Company’s continuing distribution system undertaking. However, the Company is being required to take action on six deficiencies associated with rate of renovation activity and reporting of activity.

Audit of response to selected consumer complaints

A desk top audit of their complaint procedures and the Company’s response to 12 consumer complaints about drinking water quality was found to be satisfactory.

Audit trails of selected microbiological test results

Vertical audits were carried out on two test results selected at random for the period January 2003. The Company is being required to take action on deficiencies identified with quality control in both samples and recording of data in one sample.

Audit trails of selected nonmicrobiological test results

Vertical audits were carried out on eight test results selected at random for the period March 2002 to February 2003. The Company is being required to take action on deficiencies identified with the analytical method for three parameters and the level of detail therein for two of these parameters, and the entering of AQC results on the control chart for one parameter.

Inspection of five water treatment works and three service reservoirs

Inspections were carried out at Benhall, Halesworth, Langford, Ormesby and Walpole water treatment works; and Herongate, Southwold and Stevens Farm service reservoir sites. The operation and management of all the treatment works and service reservoirs were satisfactory. However, the Company is being required to take action on a number of minor deficiencies associated with restarting Ormesby works, the location of the sampling tap and the operation of filters at Halesworth, and operational matters at Southwold tank.

Audit of plumbosolvency treatment and control programmes

Progress with the programme of work for plumbosolvency treatment and control measures for lead was found to be satisfactory.

Incidents

The Inspectorate regarded four events notified during 2003 as incidents. Further details of these incidents are given in the table below.

Three of the incidents were fully investigated and assessed by the Inspectorate during 2003. Each was of relatively short duration and, where applicable, the Company took appropriate action to protect public health. The Company was required to take, and has taken action on a number of deficiencies identified in respect of procedures associated with the repair of burst mains and records.

One of the incidents remains under consideration.

During 2003, investigations were also completed for three incidents that occurred in 2002.

Nature of incident	Assessment completed during 2003
Advice to boil water
Microbiological contamination was detected following the repair of a burst main in the Mountnessing area. Ingress of contaminated water occurred during the repair. Five properties were affected.	Yes
Microbiological contamination was detected following the repair of a burst main in the Thundersley area. Ingress of contaminated water occurred during the repair. Twentythree properties were affected.	Yes
Microbiological contamination was detected following the repair of a burst main in the Romford area. Four properties were affected. The cause of the contamination was not conclusively identified.	Yes
Microbiological contamination was detected following the repair of a burst main in the North End area. Sixty properties were affected. The initial failure was due to the condition of the consumer’s tap and subsequent failures were attributed to disturbance of biofilm during valve operations and mains flushing.	No

Enforcement action

No enforcement action was considered for the Company as a result of the Inspectorate’s activities during 2003.

Improvement programmes

Water treatment works/service reservoirs

One undertaking associated with treatment works were due for completion during 2003. This was to install treatment at Ormesby treatment works to remove THMs. The undertaking was completed on schedule.

Distribution

Progress has been made with work associated with the continuing distribution system undertaking. During 2003, 112 km of mains were renovated. The Company is required to renovate a further 521 km of mains by 31 October 2008.

Lead

The Company’s Regulation 41 programme of work to meet the revised standard for lead set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 has been progressing satisfactorily. Plumbosolvency treatment measures were installed at all sites specified in the programme by 25 December 2003.