Drinking Water 2003

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 152,418 tests on samples of water leaving its 91 water treatment works, from its 528 service reservoirs and from consumers’ taps in its 160 water supply zones. Of these, 99.85% (152,191) complied with the standards set down in the Regulations. However, 0.15% (227) 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, failures of the total coliform standard at three works were considered trivial, or unlikely to recur.

There were no failures of the faecal coliform standard at any of the 91 works.

In 2003, 6,200 regulatory samples for Cryptosporidium were taken at 22 sites. Very low numbers of oocysts were detected in 104 samples from 12 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 coliforms or faecal coliforms were detected. All other differences were not considered significant.

Total coliforms were occasionally detected at a number of service reservoirs. However, only one service reservoir, Cilan SR, failed the total coliform standard. This failure was considered unlikely to recur as Cilan SR has now been permanently removed from supply.

The single failure of the faecal coliform standard at one service reservoir, Carmel SR, was considered unlikely to recur as the service reservoir has now been permanently removed from supply.

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 = 160)*
		No	%		2003	2002	2001
Coliforms	8,675	29	0.33	0	1	0	0
Faecal coliforms	8,673	0	0.00	0	0	3	3
Colour	754	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Turbidity	1,951	2	0.10	2	2	2	3
Odour	991	3	0.30	0	3	2	3
Taste	847	0	0.00	0	0	1	0
Hydrogen ion	1,219	2	0.16	0	2	1	3
Nitrate	1,770	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Nitrite	1,774	49	2.76	0	7	7	26
Aluminium	1,273	2	0.16	1	2	0	3
Iron	3,730	34	0.91	34	24	31	40
Manganese	1,706	9	0.53	2	5	2	7
Lead	825	1	0.12	0	1	3	10
PAH	869	57	6.56	0	29	18	21
Trihalomethanes	523	0	0.00	0	0	0	9
Total pesticides	518	0	0.00	0	0	1	0
Atrazine	531	0	0.00	0	0	0	2
Isoproturon	273	0	0.00	0	0	0	3
Mecoprop	419	0	0.00	0	0	1	1
Other pesticides	16,947	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
Benzo 3.4 Pyrene	869	4	0.46	0	1	1	1
Oxidizability	201	0	0.00	0	0	1	0
All others	19,912	0	0.00	0	0	0	0
TOTAL	75,250	192	0.26
*171 zone in 2002 and 177 zones in 2001

 

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

During 2003, there was a significant increase in the number of failures for PAH when compared to 2002. However, the standards for this parameter have been revised, and as the second table below demonstrates, all tests for this parameter met the revised standard in force from 1 January 2004.

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	674	1.0 µg/l	0
Bromate	654	10.0 µg/l	0
1,2 dichloroethane	665	3.0 µg/l	0
Nitrite (exwater treatment works)	236	0.1 mg/l	0
Clostridium perfringens	615	0/100 ml	1
Enterococci	626	0/100 ml	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		179		10.0 µg/l	0	5.0 µg/l	0
Arsenic		177		50.0 µg/l	0	10.0 µg/l	0
Boron		172		2.0 mg/l	0	1.0 mg/l	0
Copper		177		3.0 mg/l	0	2.0 mg/l	0
Lead		825		50.0 µg/l	1	25.0 µg/l	1
						10.0 µg/l *	7
Nickel		177		50.0 µg/l	0	20.0 µg/l	0
Nitrite (at consumers’ taps)			1,774	0.1 mg/l	49	0.5 mg/l	0
PAH			869	0.2 µg/l	57	0.1 µg/l	0
Tetrachloroethene Trichloroethene			372 372	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’.

** The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2001 in Wales

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

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

The announced audit on the Company’s Cryptosporidium laboratory identified four regulatory breaches as well as a number of other minor deficiencies associated with the approved method set down in the Standard Operating Protocol Part 2. The Company’s laboratory has taken the required remedial action to rectify the deficiencies identified.

Audit of membrane treatment plants and membrane integrity testing system

An audit of the six membrane treatment sites and the system of membrane integrity testing was found to be satisfactory.

Audit of progress with water treatment works improvement programmes

A desktop audit of four schemes associated with improvement programmes at water treatment works was carried out together with one site visit. The schemes were for THM at Rhiwgoch treatment works; for pesticides at Broomy Hill treatment works; for solvents at Midsummer Meadow treatment works; and for pH at Bontgoch treatment works. Progress with all these schemes was considered satisfactory.

Review of distribution system undertaking

Progress with the programme of mains renovation set out in the Company’s continuing distribution system undertaking was found to be generally satisfactory. However, the Company is being required to take action on five minor deficiencies.

Audit of response to selected consumer complaints

A desktop 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 March 2003 to May 2003. There were no significant deficiencies.

Audit trails of selected nonmicrobiological test results

Vertical audits were carried out on eight test results selected at random for the period June 2002 to March 2003. The Company is being required to take action on deficiencies identified with scheduling of samples at regular intervals. Deficiencies were also identified in the arrangements for reviewing control charts for many of the earlier samples but the Inspectorate accepts that Company’s contract laboratory has since introduced new procedures for such reviews. These will be followed up by the Inspectorate in the next audit.

Inspection of one water treatment works and two service reservoirs

Inspections were carried out at Felindre water treatment works and Beddgelert and Rhosgadfan service reservoir sites. The operation and management of the treatment works and service reservoirs were satisfactory. However, the Company is being required to take action on a couple of minor deficiencies associated with calibration of equipment identified at Felindre WTW, and the protocol for the decommissioning of service reservoirs.

Audit of work on distribution system

An inspection was carried out on a major mains laying and replacement project at Ystradgynlais. The operation and management of the project weres satisfactory. The Company is being required to take action on one minor deficiency identified during the inspection regarding the hypochlorite solution used onsite for sterilisation of equipment and mains.

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 generally satisfactory. However, the Company is being required to take action regarding consistency of phosphate dosing at one works, and on its procedures for bringing standby supplies back into supply.

Assessment of procedures for working on under pressure systems

A desktop assessment of the Company’s protocols and procedures for the drilling and tapping of under pressure mains systems was carried out. The procedures and systems in place were satisfactory.

Audit of one analytical laboratory

An audit of one of the Company’s analytical contract laboratories was carried out. The audit identified a number of deficiencies regarding traceability, calibration and analytical quality control within the laboratory. The laboratory was required to take action on these deficiencies, and a followup inspection carried out later in 2003 confirmed that corrective action had been taken on a number of issues. The laboratory will be subject to further audit during 2004.

Incidents

The Inspectorate regarded 11 events notified during 2003 as incidents. Further details of these incidents are given in the table below.

Eight 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 is being required to take action on a number of deficiencies identified in respect of carrying out risk assessments, internal communications, site supervision and training, notifying consumers and sampling. The three remaining incidents were still under consideration at the end of 2003.

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

For one of these incidents involving discolouration of water supplies to potentially 13,000 consumers in the Cray district of Swansea following planned maintenance work on the distribution system, the Company admitted that it supplied water unfit for human consumption during the incident, contrary to Section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991, and received a formal caution.

Enforcement action

The table below indicates areas where, in 2003, the Inspectorate considered taking enforcement action for regulatory breaches, and where an undertaking was submitted or where the Company took appropriate action.

Parameter/Area	Regulation breached	Location	Outcome
Benzo 3,4-pyrene	3(3)(d)	Pontllanfraith	Undertaking pending

The Inspectorate was minded to initiate Enforcement action for submission of an erroneous and inadequate data return for 2003, particularly as a similar problem occurred for 2002 data. However, the Company has given assurances that the information management system recently installed will resolve the issue. Enforcement action will be taken if further deficiencies with provision of information occur.

Improvement programmes

Water treatment works/service reservoirs

One undertaking associated with treatment works was due for completion during 2003. This was to install treatment at Broomy Hill treatment works to remove pesticides. The undertaking was completed on schedule.

One Regulation 41 programme of work to meet the new and revised standards set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000* was due for completion in 2003. This was to remove the risk of solvents occurring in the supply from Midsummer Meadow treatment works. The programme was completed on schedule.

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

Distribution

Progress with the continuing distribution system undertaking was satisfactory. During 2003, 586 kilometres of mains were renovated. The Company is required to renovate a further 3134 kilometres of mains by 31 March 2010.

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.

*The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2001 in Wales