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Case study 6 – Inappropriate use of a private supply by a food business can give rise to substantive economic, reputational and regulatory costs
This case study relates to the use of a contaminated private water supply by a large food factory that resulted in the authorities issuing a Detention of Food Notice and the granting, by magistrates, of a Food Condemnation Order under Section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990. The consequential direct costs incurred by the […]
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Case study 5 – Reinforcing the challenges associated with identifying Regulation 8 supplies and the importance of fully understanding the Regulations to ensure the correct response during an investigation.
This case study relates to a water quality concern reported by a water company customer in Gloucestershire about a mains supply which on investigation revealed unusual supply arrangements which had some characteristics of a Regulation 8 supply. The consumer lives on a farm which receives a mains supply from the local water company. The owner […]
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Treatment requirements at a public building
In September 2014, the Inspectorate was contacted by a local authority for advice on the treatment of water supplying a wedding venue, which accommodates up to 250 guests. Since the premises, (a large converted country house) holds community functions, the supply constitutes a Regulation 9 supply, as a public building. The supply was not being […]
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What constitutes a ‘commercial premises’ within the context of the legislation?
This case study relates to a common source of confusion where terminology relating to public and commercial use is often misunderstood and wrongly applied. It cites an enquiry which provides a useful opportunity to put into context the scope of the Regulations in terms of how Regulations 8, 9 and 10 are interpreted by local […]
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Dealing with common enforcement challenges: as illustrated by a case of a Regulation 18 Notice served on a large private supply to a school
This case study concerns a boarding school with around 300 pupils and staff. The premises is situated in a suburban area, but enjoys its own expansive private grounds. The school is served by a private water supply which draws water from a borehole, into a storage tank. Chlorine dioxide is generated on-site and is dosed […]
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Change of use from non-domestic to domestic purposes at a public building
This case study involves a supply owned by an organisation which provides vocational training to teenage pupils. In 2010 it acquired a site comprising a number of metal sheds and outbuildings with water provided by a shallow borehole. The site at that stage was only used as mechanical workshops and the water supply was used […]
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The objective and purpose of Regulation 8
In February, an MP wrote to the Inspectorate on behalf of a constituent who was complaining about a ‘copper residue’ in her drinking water. In line with normal practice, the Inspectorate contacted the water company to find out if they were aware of the complaint and, if yes, to establish whether the company had investigated […]
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Deershed Festival
Since 2012, an annual three-day festival has taken place in northern England. Water is supplied for domestic purposes from a borehole. The borehole supplies a lake, which acts as a reservoir and the water is then piped to points around the festival grounds. As the lake level lowers, a pump is automatically started to draw […]
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Determining the validity of historic agreements concerning the source of a private water supply
In June 2014, a water company was contacted by a local authority about concerns they had about a drinking water supply as a result of carrying out a risk assessment. The source for the supply appeared to be located on land owned by the water company where there were cattle grazing and using a watering […]
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Classification of tourist springs and wholesomeness issues
Historic springs that are used as a tourist attraction It is not uncommon for a spring to feature as a tourist attraction at a historic site visited by the public and in such instances information about the spring must be on the local authority’s private supply record. Such supplies fall in scope of Regulation 9 […]
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Illegal connection
On 13 November 2014, a water company meter reader visited a farm near Pickering in North Yorkshire to take a meter reading, and discovered the meter was running backwards. The meter reader also identified that there was a private borehole on site being used for domestic purposes, and arranged for a Water Regulations Inspector to […]
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Action in the event of a failure at a single domestic dwelling
This case study relates to a rural supply fed from a spring directly to a farmhouse, and a farm on which only the resident farmer works, therefore constituting a single domestic dwelling. There is no treatment on the supply, and the farmer approached the local authority to take a sample to satisfy the farm assurance […]