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Notice of Regulation: Franklaw Water Treatment Works

Completion Date: 30/04/2022
Ref: UUT3499

NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 28(4) OF THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2016 (AS AMENDED)

United Utilities Water Limited: Franklaw Water Treatment Works

Reference: UUT3499

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:

  • Franklaw WTW
  • Westby service reservoir
  • Weeton service reservoir
  • Warbreck service reservoir
  • Warbreck tower service reservoir
  1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received a regulation 28(1) report of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’) from the Company dated 24 September 2015, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Franklaw Water Treatment works (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health.
  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:

Hazard/Hazardous Event/Parameter

Hazard ID

Description of Risks

Cryptosporidium

C111 Cryptosporidium oocysts – 2015/00324283

Contamination from ingress

  1. The Company are required to satisfy the following:

Requirements

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

Date: Until revocation of this notice

  1. Optimisation of all existing treatment processes, particularly particulate removal stages to meet the Badenoch and Bouchier recommendations.
  2. Operation of all processes within defined normal operating ranges with appropriate triggers, responses and contingency procedures.
  3. Continuous final water monitoring for Cryptosporidium with daily filter changes.
  4. Online turbidity monitoring pre contact tank with appropriate alarms and failsafe shutdown.
  5. Operational monitoring for Clostridia and other bacteriological parameters.
  6. Continuously review all critical control points and mitigation measures for the duration of this notice with a view to updating the notice with additional measures where required.
  7. Liaise as agreed with local health authorities.

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

Date: All Complete

  1. Implement the following immediate measures:
    • Ensure that risk to public health is mitigated by means of disinfection and appropriate treatment to render harmless any parasite at Franklaw works or at appropriate points of use.
      OR
    • Secure other measures that ensure the water at the point of consumption is wholesome, the supply is in control and would not pose a risk to human health.
  1. Carry out a robust investigation to identify the source of Cryptosporidium and pathway into supplies from Franklaw works.
  2. Identify all options for additional risk mitigation to secure the long-term protection of public health to consumers receiving water from the Franklaw works’ supply system.
  3. Update the regulation 27 risk assessment for the site and supply system upon the conclusion of the above investigation.
  4. Determine and initiate a stepwise strategy with key milestones and success criteria to ensure the supply system is free from parasites which may be harmful to health.
  5. Make operational temporary ultraviolet irradiation appropriate for the inactivation of any Cryptosporidium challenge within the supply system from Franklaw works. To be located at strategic points which will mitigate the risk to human health for all consumers receiving a supply from the Franklaw supply system.
  6. Deliver the stepwise strategy in (b)5 by undertaking flushing and cleaning of strategic reservoirs and downstream network to secondary reservoirs to remove residual contamination.
  7. Undertake flushing and cleaning of secondary reservoirs, including any required enabling works to remove residual contamination of the following remaining assets;
    • Weeton
    • Warbreck 1
    • Warbreck 2
    • Warbreck Tower
  8. Complete planning, design and procurement of permanent ultraviolet irradiation appropriate for the inactivation of any Cryptosporidium challenge within the supply system from Franklaw works.
  9. Complete construction, install and commission the ultraviolet treatment plant.

(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 section (a) and (b).
    Date: Complete
  2. Implement, and keep under continuous review, the audit strategy defined in measure (c)1.
    Date: Following completion of measure (c)1. onwards until revocation of this notice

(d) not to supply water for regulation 4(1) purposes from Treatment Works, 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 by 31 January and against the following milestones:
    Date: Annually by 31 January
    • Confirmation of measures delivered to satisfy step (b)1.
      Date: Complete
    • Confirmation of the audit strategy.
      Date: Complete
    • Submit plans for the stepwise flushing and cleaning of the supply system.
      Date: Complete
    • Confirmation of long-term solution
      Date: Complete
  2. Submit the strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in (c)1.
  3. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  4. Submit a report in the event that any completed measure of this Notice needs to be altered in any way for any reason.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 April 2022
  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
Milo Purcell
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
26 March 2021
Reference: UUT3499
Version 4