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 4,048 tests on samples of water leaving its water treatment works, from its service reservoirs and from consumers’ taps in its water supply zones. All samples complied with the 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 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, there were no failures of the total coliform or faecal coliform standards at any treatment works.

In 2003, the Company was not required to take any regulatory samples for Cryptosporidium at any of its sites.

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.

There were no failures of the total coliforms or faecal coliforms standard at any of the Company’s service reservoirs during 2003.

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 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 = 4)*
		No	%		2003	2002	2001
Coliforms	372	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Faecal coliforms	372	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Colour	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Turbidity	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Odour	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Taste	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Hydrogen ion	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Nitrate	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Nitrite	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Aluminium	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Iron	54	0	0.00	0	0	1	1
Manganese	36	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Lead	16	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
PAH	16	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Trihalomethanes	16	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Total pesticides	16	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Other pesticides	320	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
All others	450	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
TOTAL	1,956	0	0.00
*4 zones in 2002 and in 2001

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	27	1.0µg/l	0
Bromate	26	10.0µg/l	2
1,2 dichloroethane	25	3.0µg/l	0
Nitrite (ex-water treatment works)	55	0.1mg/l	0
Clostridium perfringens	26	0/100ml	0
Enterococci	26	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		4	10.0µg/l	0	5.0µg/l	0
Arsenic		4	50.0µg/l	0	10.0µg/l	0
Boron		4	2.0mg/l	0	1.0mg/l	0
Copper		16	3.0mg/l	0	2.0mg/l	0
Lead		16	50.0µg/l	0	25.0µg/l	0
					10.0µg/l*	0
Nickel		4	50.0µg/l	0	20.0µg/l	0
Nitrite (at consumers’ taps)		36	0.1mg/l	0	0.5mg/l	0
PAH		16	0.2µg/l	0	0.1µg/l	0
Tetrachloroethene Trichloroethene		16 16	10.0µg/l 30.0µg/l	0 0	} 10.0µg/l	0
* Final standard not applicable until 2013

During 2003, the Company had in place a number of 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 web site 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.

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 one test result selected at random for the period July 2002. The Company is being required to take action on deficiencies identified with the transport of samples.

Audit trails of selected nonmicrobiological test results

Vertical audits were carried out on four test results selected at random for the period January to March 2003. The Company is being required to take action on deficiencies identified with the chain of custody between sampling and delivery of the sample at the analysing laboratory.

Inspection of service reservoir sites

Inspections were carried out at Bockings Elm, Brightlingsea, Elmstead Market and Park Road service reservoir sites. The operation and management of all of the service reservoir sites were satisfactory.

Audit of Company policies for the supervision of contractors working on the distribution system

A desk top audit found that the Company’s policy for the supervision of contractors working on the distribution system was satisfactory. The Company was commended for its supervisory arrangements.

Audit of Company policies for drilling and tapping activities on the distribution system

A desk top audit found that the Company’s policy for drilling and tapping activities on the distribution system was satisfactory.

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 none of the events notified during 2003 as incidents.

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

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

Distribution

Investigations having shown that no renovation is required, the Company’s distribution system undertaking is now complete.

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 both sites specified in the programme by 25 December 2003.