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Northumbrian Water Limited: Barsham WTW – Nitrate Removal (AMP8)

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

Reference: NES-2024-00006

Version Number: 1

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Northumbrian Water Limited, with registered number 02366703 (hereinafter called ‘the company’).

Assets Affected:

  1. T030 Barsham WTW

Details of this Notice:

  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 February 2025, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Barsham WTW (and associated assets as applicable) 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

Elevated nitrate in raw water

Nitrate

ESK_TRE_T030_A012_CFH

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. Operation of Barsham WTW in accordance with company policy, procedures and to internally agreed process parameters.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice

 

  1. Proactive management of nitrate at Barsham WTW to minimise the risk to wholesomeness.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Ongoing monitoring of regulatory and operational sample results and online data.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  3. Investigate exceedances of the nitrate parameter in line with company procedures.   
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice  
  4. Report all regulatory exceedances of the standards for the nitrate parameter to the Inspectorate, as part of the current monthly exception reporting process.   
    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. Agree and define appropriate solution for nitrate removal.
    Date: 31 January 2026
  2. Complete the planning, design and procurement arrangements for the nitrate removal plant.
    Date: 31 March 2029
  3. Complete the construction, installation and commissioning of nitrate removal plant, as specified in measure (b)2. Date: 31 March 2031

(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 2025
  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 Barsham WTW, 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 as requested.
    Date: by 31 January each year.
  2. Submit a report confirming the chosen solution for nitrate removal, as specified in measure (b)1.
    Date: 28 February 2026
  3. Submit a report confirming the completion of the planning, design and procurement arrangements for the nitrate removal plant, as specified in measure (b)2.
    Date: 30 April 2029
  4. Submit a report confirming the completion of the construction, installation and commissioning of nitrate removal plant, as specified in measure (b)3.
    Date: 30 April 2031
  5. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 31 August 2025
  6. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  7. 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
  8. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 April 2032

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
7 May 2025
Reference: NES-2024-00006

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