10 HARTLEPOOL WATER PLC
Introduction
The Company supplies on average 35 Ml/d of water to a population of approximately 91,000 people centred on the town of Hartlepool. The Company's water resources for potable supply consist of 20 boreholes operating at depths between 70m and 200m in the magnesian limestone. Water is treated at three treatment works. Treated water is distributed via six service reservoirs and 513 km of mains. The supply area is divided into four water supply zones.
Overall water quality
At water treatment works and service reservoirs and in water supply zones, the Company carried out a total of 2,468 determinations in 2000. Of these, 99.96% demonstrated compliance with the relevant PCV, but one showed a contravention to have occurred.
Coliforms were not detected at any of the Company's three water treatment works. At all of the Company's six service reservoirs, coliforms were absent from at least 95% of samples. Of the Company's four water supply zones in 2000, >99.9% complied fully with the relevant water quality standards or had a breach of a standard which was considered trivial.
Microbiological quality of water leaving treatment works
The Company complied with the sampling frequencies required by regulation 17 at all of its treatment works in 2000.
Table 10.1 shows the Company's performance in 2000, with data for 1999 and 1998 for comparison. Differences over the last three years in the number of treatment works, and samples from treatment works in which coliforms were detected are not considered significant.
There were no contraventions of the microbiological standards at any of the Company's water treatment works in 2000.
Microbiological quality of water in service reservoirs
The Company complied with the sampling frequencies required by regulation 18 at all of its service reservoirs in 2000.
Table 10.2 shows the Company's performance in 2000, with data for 1999 and 1998 for comparison. Differences the last three years in the number of service reservoirs, and samples from service reservoirs, in which coliforms were detected are not considered significant.
There were no contraventions of the microbiological standards at any of the Company's service reservoirs in 2000.
Water quality in water supply zones
The Company complied with the required sampling frequencies in all zones.
Table 10.3 shows the Company's performance in 2000, with data 1999 and 1998 for comparison. Differences over the last three years are not considered statistically significant.
The contravention of the coliform standard in one zone is considered trivial.
Inspection
Audit trails of five samples
Mr R M Walls, Consultant, working under the direction of Mr W M Waite, Principal Inspector carried out audit trails on five samples chosen at random. Based on Mr Walls report Mr Waite concluded that:
The sampling and analytical arrangements are generally satisfactory. The chain of custody of samples to the analysing laboratory should be documented. The analytical results have appeared on the Public Record in time.
Audit of plumbosolvency treatment and control programmes of work
In November 2000, Consultants WS Atkins, represented by Mr M Kimber, working under the direction of Mr P Halton, Inspector, carried out an audit of the Company as part of the Inspectorate’s work in agreeing with water companies’ their programmes of works to secure compliance with new lead standards. Based on Mr Kimber’s report, Mr Halton concluded that:
the Company’s process of sites/scheme selection for plumbosolvency treatment and/or optimisation measures is sound;
the integrity of the data submitted to the Inspectorate and used for assessing plumbosolvency was confirmed;
the schemes audited are justified on water quality reasons; and
the Company’s proposed steps to be taken and the proposed completion dates are generally sound.
Follow-up of recommendations made in 1999 Inspection Report
The Inspectorate audited the Company on its response to previous recommendations with the following conclusions:
the Company has made a positive response to the recommendations made in the 1999 Inspection Report;
the sampling and analytical arrangements are generally satisfactory. The chain of custody of samples to the analysing laboratory should be documented. The analytical results have appeared on the Public Record in time; and
the Company has made substantial responses to most of the recommendations made in the previous audit of water company procedures for operation and maintenance of distribution systems but there are still areas where the company responses are considered to be inadequate.
Review of procedures for operation and maintenance of the distribution network
In December 2000, Consultants Binnie, Black and Veatch working under the direction of Mr W M Waite, Principal Inspector carried a follow up investigation of the recommendations made during the 1999 audit of the Review of Procedures for Operation and Maintenance of the Distribution Network. Based on their report Mr Waite concluded that:
- that to provide adequate responses to those responses to recommendations that are considered inadequate, the company extends its procedures to provide the following:
- Guidance on maximum acceptable velocities for different diameters of pipes affected by the operation (Procedure for Revalving and Rezoning of Supplies – Recommendation R1.1);
- Guidance on maximum acceptable velocities for different diameters of pipes affected by the operation (Procedure for the Routine Operation of Valves – Recommendation R2.1);
- Guidance on Impact of discolouration from alternative supplies (Procedure for the Routine Operation of Valves – Recommendation R2.2);
- Guidance on flushing velocities (Procedure for the Routine Operation of Valves – Recommendation R2.3);
- Guidance on the requirement for network modelling and on flushing velocities to be achieved for each pipe diameter (Policy for the Pre-emptive Flushing of Mains and its Implementation – Recommendation 3.1);
- Guidance on discharge flushing rates, timing of the flushing operation, specified duration that each hydrant should be flushed and written statement of timing and sequence (Procedure and Policy for Flushing Small and Large Diameter Mains– Recommendation 4.2);
- A written procedure on sampling and analysing (Procedure and Practice for Dealing with the Discolouration of Supplies – Recommendation R5.3);
- Guidance on minimising potential risks for temporary supply arrangements (Approach to Mains Cleaning and the Procedures employed – Recommendation R6.1);
A written procedure on the use of network modelling (The Use of Computer Modelling and other Techniques to assess Potential Discolouration Problems from Major Pre-Planned Operations – Recommendation R7.1); - Guidance on maximum flows from source works, pumping stations etc (Avoidance of Rapid Fluctuations in Flow that could Disturb Sediment – Recommendation R9.1).
As a result of these inspections, 10 recommendations were conveyed to the Company for formal response.
Improvement programmes
There were no undertakings in respect of improvement programmes accepted by the Secretary of State from the Company that were due for full completion or the completion of major steps during 2000.
Relaxations
An authorised relaxation for magnesium in zones supplied by Dalton Piercy treatment works had been granted to the Company by the Secretary of State, subject to review at the end of 1999. As a result of the review the relaxation was renewed subject to a further review in December 2003.
Incidents
One event notified during 2000 by the Company to the Secretary of State under the terms of the Water Undertakers (Information) Direction 1999 is regarded by the Inspectorate as constituting an incident in which drinking water quality demonstrably deteriorated. This event was a mains burst which resulted in the supply of discoloured water to some consumers in the Raby Road area of Hartlepool in December. The problem was of short duration and the Company took effective remedial action.
No other events regarded as constituting incidents came to the attention of the Inspectorate in 2000.
Enforcement action
No enforcement action needed to be considered for the Company as a result of the Inspectorate's work in, or pertaining to, the calendar year 2000.
table 10.1 Hartlepool Water plc
MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER LEAVING TREATMENT WORKS2000 1999 1998 Number of water treatment works 3 2 2 Works with no sampling shortfall 3 2 2 COLIFORMS Total number of determinations 331 312 312 - number containing coliforms 0 0 0 - % containing coliforms 0.0 0.0 0.0 Treatment works with coliforms detected 0 0 0 - % of all works 0 0 0 FAECAL COLIFORMS Total number of determinations 331 312 312 - number containing faecal coliforms 0 0 0 - % containing faecal coliforms 0.0 0.0 0.0 Treatment works with faecal coliforms detected 0 0 0 - % of all works 0 0 0
table 10.2 Hartlepool Water plc
MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER IN SERVICE RESERVOIRS2000 1999 1998 Number of service reservoirs 6 6 6 Service reservoirs with no sampling shortfall 6 6 6 COLIFORMS Total number of determinations 312 312 312 - number containing coliforms 0 0 0 - % containing coliforms 0.0 0.0 0.0 Service reservoirs with coliforms detected 0 0 0 Service reservoirs with coliforms detected in more than 5% of samples 0 0 0 - % of all service reservoirs 0 0 0 FAECAL COLIFORMS Total number of determinations 312 312 312 - number containing faecal coliforms 0 0 0 - % containing faecal coliforms 0.0 0.0 0.0 Service reservoirs with faecal coliforms detected 0 0 0 - % of all service reservoirs 0 0 0
table 10.3 Hartlepool Water plc
WATER QUALITY IN SUPPLY ZONESColumns 'CBU' show, for determinations, contraventions covered by undertakings and, for zones, the total number of zones covered by undertakings in 2000. Column 'E' shows the number of zones for which new enforcement action is under consideration as a result of contraventions of the PCV in 2000. Please refer to the Introduction to Part 2 for more detailed explanation of this table. PARAMETER DETERMINATIONS in 2000 ZONES (4 in 2000)* Total Contravening PCV Non-compliant No. % CBU CBU E Number in: 2000 2000 1999 1998 Coliforms 233 2 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Faecal coliforms 233 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Colour 14 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Turbidity 14 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Odour 6 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taste 6 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hydrogen ion 14 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nitrate 14 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nitrite 14 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Aluminium 14 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Iron 113 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Manganese 113 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lead 5 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PAH 8 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Trihalomethanes 4 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total pesticides 4 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Other pesticides 76 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 All others 297 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTAL 1,182 1 <0.1 0 - - - - - *3 zones in 1999; 3 zones in 1998.
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Drinking Water Inspectorate,
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Published 11 July 2001
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