Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)
South West Water Limited – Dean Hill Road Discolouration, Low Pressure and Loss of Supply
Reference: SWB-2026-00004
Version Number: 1
Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): South West Water Limited, with registered number 02366665 (hereinafter called ‘the company’).
Assets Affected:
- Allers Works – A8302R1
- Allers West Supply Zone – ZEX5B
Details of this Notice:
- The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received various regulation 28(1) reports of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’) from the company dated 21 Jan 2026 and 22 May 2026, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water within ZEX5B Allers West Supply Zone (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health or could be unwholesome.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
Loss of supply within the zone. | H063 No supply | SWB-Haz-ZEX5B-H063-0001 |
Consumer acceptability discolouration. | H057 Discolouration | SWB-Haz-ZEX5B-H057-0001 |
Consumer acceptability discolouration. | A022 Iron (total) | SWB-Haz-ZEX5B-A022-0001 |
Consumer acceptability discolouration. | A023 Manganese (total) | SWB-Haz-ZEX5B-A023-0001 |
- 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:
- Continued monitoring, tracking and reporting customer contacts as per company policy.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Responding as required to any PCV failure or customer contact in line with company policy.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Continued liaison with local and public health authorities as appropriate and as per company policy.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Conduct maintenance flushing every month.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Conduct filter changes every month.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Monitoring of water quality within Dean Hill Road, sampling from multiple properties every 3 months.
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:
- Conduct an investigation into the condition of the mains supplying Dean Hill Road in order to determine the most appropriate solution
Date: 30 September 2027 - Undertake the required asset improvements for the mains supplying Dean Hill Road, based on the findings of measure (b)1.
Date: 31 March 2030
(c) To audit whether the measures have been effective by the following means:
- Define an audit strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the measures specified in sections (a) and (b).
Date: 31 October 2026 - 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 ZEX5B Allers West Supply Zone, or not to so supply unless the specified conditions below are satisfied:
- 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:
- Provide a progress report annually.
Date: by 31 January each year. - Provide the findings of the investigation undertaken in measure (b)1 and confirm the chosen solution.
Date: 31 October 2027 - Confirm completion of the asset improvements undertaken in measure (b)2.
Date: 30 April 2030 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: 30 November 2026 - Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
Date: Within 1 month of a revision - 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 - Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
Date: 30 April 2031
Further Details of this Notice:
- Any product or substance used as a result of the requirements in this Notice must comply with regulation 31.
- 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.
- 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).
Nicholas Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
5 August 2026
Reference: SWB-2026-00004