Skip to main content
Search

United Utilities Water Limited – Hoghton Service Reservoir

Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)

Reference: UUT-2026-00003

Version Number: 1

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): United Utilities Water Limited, with registered number 02366678 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

  • R425 – Hoghton SR

Details of this Notice:

  1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received a set of regulation 28(1) reports of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’) from the Company dated 21 October 2025, which state that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Hoghton Service Reservoir that could constitute a potential danger to human health or could be unwholesome.
  2. Consequently, this Notice is served on the Company by the Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State, under regulation 28(4) for the assets listed above, for risks associated with:

Description of Risk

Hazard/ Hazardous Event/ Parameter

Hazard I D

Multiple hazard lines e.g.:

Integrity of SR structure

E. coli

R425C002299380

Integrity of SR structure

Total coliforms

R425C001299380

Integrity of SR structure

Enterococci

R425C003299380

Integrity of SR structure

Colony counts

R425C007299380

Integrity of SR structure

Clostridium perfringens

R425C004A299380

Table 1: Table of the hazards, hazardous events, and/or parameters covered by this Notice, including the Hazard I D numbers and the description of risks.
  1. The Company are required to satisfy the following requirements.

The date given is that until or by which the requirements must be maintained or satisfied, as appropriate.

Requirements:

(a) To maintain the following measures for the period specified in each case:

  1. Operate Hoghton Service Reservoir in accordance with current company policy, standards and procedures, that align to recognised standards of good practice.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Maintain proactive external site inspections, grounds maintenance, site security and asset maintenance. This must include periodic inspections of hatches, seals, sample tap, scour valve and overflow.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice

(b) To review, revise or make operational the following measures, by the dates specified in each case:

1. Remove Hoghton Service Reservoir Compartment 2 from supply in preparation for the internal inspection.
Date: 30 April 2027

2. Complete an internal inspection and complete any remedial works required, before returning the reservoir to supply.
Date: 31 August 2027

(c) To audit whether the measures have been effective by the following means:

  1. Define an audit strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the measures specified in sections (a) and (b).
    Date: 31 July 2026
  2. Implement, and keep under continuous review, the audit strategy defined in measure (c)1.
    Date: Following completion of measure (c)1. onwards.

(d) Not to supply water for regulation 4(1) purposes from Hoghton Service Reservoir, or not to so supply unless the specified conditions below are satisfied:

  1. Not applicable

(e) To provide the following information in the time and manner specified below to enable monitoring of progress towards the mitigation of the risks:

  1. Provide a progress report annually.
    Date: by 31 January each year.
  2. Confirm the isolation of Hoghton Service Reservoir Compartment 2.
    Date: 31 May 2027
  3. Confirm inspection and remediation of Hoghton Service Reservoir Compartment 2.
    Date: 30 September 2027
  4. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 31 August 2026
  5. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  6. Submit a report in the event that any completed measures of this Notice need to be altered in any way, for any reason.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  7. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 September 2028

Further Details of this Notice:

  1. Any product or substance used as a result of the requirements in this Notice must comply with regulation 31.
  2. Under regulation 28(6) the Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, may by notice served on the Company, revoke or vary this Notice.
  3. Failure by the Company to comply with this Notice may result in enforcement proceedings under section 18 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended).

Signed

Nicholas Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
12 June 2026
Reference: UUT-2026-00003

Back to top
Print page