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 164,957 tests on samples of water leaving its 33 water treatment works, from its 327 service reservoirs and from consumers’ taps in its 81 water supply zones. Of these, 99.92% (164,830) complied with the standards set down in the Regulations. However, 0.08% (127) 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. There was a significant decrease in 2002 from 2001 in the number of treatment works, and in the number of tests carried out on samples from treatment works, in which total coliforms were detected. However, in 2003, there was a significant increase in the number of treatment works in which total coliforms were detected. All other differences were not considered significant.

During 2003, six failures of the total coliform standard at six works were considered trivial, and two failures at one works as unlikely to recur.

There were no failures of the faecal coliform standard at any works.

In 2003, 4,618 regulatory samples for Cryptosporidium were taken at 13 sites. Very low numbers of oocysts were detected in 15 samples from three 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. There has been a significant decrease since 2001 in the number of service reservoirs, and in the number of tests carried out on samples from service reservoirs, in which total coliforms were detected. All other differences were not considered significant.

During 2003, total coliforms were occasionally detected at a number of 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 = 81)*
		No	%			2003	2002	2001
Coliforms	4,966	20	0.40		0	0	0	0
Faecal coliforms	4,966	1	0.02		0	1	1	1
Colour	2,728	0	0.00		0	0	0	0
Turbidity	2,728	0	0.00		0	0	0	2
Odour	767	0	0.00		0	0	0	0
Taste	763	0	0.00		0	0	0	0
Hydrogen ion	2,728	1	0.04		0	1	1	1
Nitrate	1,122	0	0.00		0	0	0	0
Nitrite	1,122	0	0.00		0	0	0	0
Aluminium	2,732	0	0.00		0	0	0	1
Iron	2,732	19	0.70		17	14	29	36
Manganese	2,732	11	0.40		9	8	4	9
Lead	512	1	0.20		0	1	3	2
PAH	438	33	7.53		19	21	14	17
Trihalomethanes	401	4	1.00		0	1	0	0
Total pesticides	1,384	0	0.00		0	0	0	0
2,4D	1,336	0	0.00		0	0	0	11
MCPP	1,336	10	0.75		0	10	0	0
Other pesticides	55,958	0	0.00		0	0	0	0
Benzo3,4pyrene	438	1	0.23		0	0	0	1
All others	18,283	0	0.00		0	0	0	0
TOTAL	110,172	101	0.09
*81 zones in 2002 and in 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.

There has been an increase in the number of zones complying with the standard for iron. This reflects the improvements carried out by the Company as part of its ongoing mains renovation programme.

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	New standard	Tests not meeting
	of tests		the new standard
Benzene	189	1.0 µg/l	0
Bromate	382	10.0 µg/l	7
1,2 dichloroethane	189	3.0 µg/l	0
Nitrite (exwater treatment works)	248	0.1 mg/l	0
Clostridium perfringens	167	0/100ml	1
Enterococci	383	0/100ml	0

Compliance data for 2003 has 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		83		10.0 µg/l	0	5.0 µg/l	0
Arsenic		83		50.0 µg/l	0	10.0 µg/l	0
Boron		83		2.0 mg/l	0	1.0 mg/l	0
Copper		373		3.0 mg/l	0	2.0 mg/l	0
Lead		512		50.0 µg/l	1	25.0 µg/l	5
						10.0 µg/l*	14
Nickel		83		50.0 µg/l	0	20.0 µg/l	0
Nitrite (at consumers taps)			1,122	0.1 mg/l	0	0.5 mg/l	0
PAH			438	0.2 µg/l	33	0.1 µg/l	0
Tetrachloroethene Trichloroethene			401 401	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 a programme of work in place to meet the new lead standard.

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.

Inspection of laboratory analysing for Cryptosporidium

The announced audit on the Company’s Cryptosporidium laboratory identified two regulatory breaches as well as a minor deficiency associated with the secondary concentration and IMS of the Standard Operating Protocol. The Company 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. These were for Cryptosporidium at Dousland, Avon and Lowermoor treatment works. Progress with all three schemes was considered satisfactory.

Review of distribution system undertaking

Work for the programme of mains renovation set out in the Company’s continuing distribution system undertaking was found to be technically satisfactory. However, the Company is being required to take action on matters associated with the rate of renovation activity.

Audit of response to selected consumer complaints

A desk top audit of 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 February 2002 to August 2002. The Company is being required to take action on deficiencies identified with delay in analysis and analytical quality control in one sample only.

Audit trails of selected nonmicrobiological test results

Vertical audits were carried out on eight test results selected at random for the period May 2002 to March 2003. The Company is being required to take action on deficiencies identified with the rescheduling of samples in relation to one parameter and the method of analysis and calibration in relation to one sample.

Audit of analytical requirements for nitrate and nitrite

Vertical audits were carried out of nitrate/nitrite samples taken in a single water supply zone over a six month period to assess any changes in analytical requirements over time. The Company is being required to take action on deficiencies identified with taking corrective action whenever an out of control condition has occurred.

Inspection of three water treatment works and three service reservoirs.

Inspections were carried out at Stithians, College and Hook water treatment works and Carmenellis, Tregonning Hill and Ten Acre Gate service reservoir sites. The operation and management of all the treatment works and service reservoirs were generally satisfactory. However, the Company is being required to take action on a number of minor deficiencies associated with record keeping at College and Hook water treatment works, and maintenance at Tregonning Hill service reservoir.

Audit of sampling arrangements

Audits carried out on general sampling arrangements and on one sample round were satisfactory. However the Company is being required to take action to make improvements at Penwithick service reservoir which was visited during the round.

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.

Audit of procedures relating to mains operations by company and contract staff

Audits of Company procedures were carried out and found to be satisfactory.

Incidents

The Inspectorate regarded one event notified during 2003 as an incident. Further details of the incident is given in the table below.

The incident was fully investigated and assessed by the Inspectorate during 2003. It was of relatively short duration and, where applicable, the Company took appropriate action to protect public health.

During 2003, investigations were also completed for one incident that occurred in 2002.

Nature of incident	Assessment completed during 2003
Advice to boil water
For two days in June 2003 the Company advised about 250 consumers in Yes Porthcurno, Cornwall to boil water before use following detection of low numbers of coliforms in the distribution system.	Yes

 

Enforcement action

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

Improvement programmes

Water treatment works/service reservoirs

Two statements of intent to reduce the risk of Cryptosporidium breaching the treatment standard were due for completion during 2003. The programmes, at Dousland and Lowermoor, were completed on schedule.

No other improvement programmes associated with treatment works and service reservoirs were due for completion during 2003.

Distribution

Work for the distribution system undertaking was technically satisfactory. During 2003, 361 km of mains were renovated. The Company is now required to renovate a further 3,777 km of mains by 31 December 2009.

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.