• Contamination event due to insufficient source protection

  This case study relates to a small, rural, spring supply serving five owner occupied dwellings and a business centre where the occupiers are tenants. The supply originates from a spring located in a field used to grow crops and also comprises contingency arrangements in the form of a backup mains supply connection. The estimated daily […]

  • Ref: 2012/2
• Borehole risk assessment

  This case study relates to a risk assessment of a borehole supply. The local authority carried out a risk assessment in August following the Scottish risk assessment framework and the Environment Agency’s good practice guide for borehole construction. Although the design and construction of the borehole prevented ingress of surface water contamination, the risk score […]

  • Ref: 2012/3
• Effective collaboration between a local authority and a water company to resolve a sufficiency problem with a Regulation 8 supply

  In November 2012, a water main serving a social club on an estate developed a leak which was reported to the local water company. This privately owned property was once part of a complex of buildings on a site owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Over the years various parcels of MOD land had […]

  • Ref: 2012/5
• Repetition of illness among seasonal workers at a fruit farm associated with mismanagement of the domestic and non-domestic water supply arrangements on the premises

  This case study relates to the water supply arrangements on a 200 acre fruit farm in England. There is a mains water supply to the premises, but there is also an irrigation system that can draw water from two other sources; a borehole and a river running alongside the boundary of the premises. During the […]

  • Ref: 2012/6
• Improving the safety and sustainability of a failing rural community water supply in a cost effective manner

  This case study relates to a Regulation 9 spring supply serving a village of 80 consumers, including a public house, offices, shops, holiday accommodation and domestic dwellings. The water supply is operated on behalf of the community by a committee constituted as a limited company, whose directors are local residents. Water charges are based on […]

  • Ref: 2012/9
• Oil contamination of a private supply

  This case study relates to a former private estate, which has been redeveloped in recent times and now comprises 18 domestic dwellings and a church. The properties are owner occupied and collectively the owners are responsible for maintaining the communal part of the development such as the road and car park, and including the water […]

  • Ref: 2012/8
• Appeal against a Section 80 Notice

  This case study relates to a private water supply located in a rural area, which comprised a borehole supply serving two networks. An unmetered network served the owner’s property and an adjacent cottage, while a separate metered network supplied a third property which, in turn, supplied a number of other properties, some of which were […]

  • Ref: 2012/4
• Risk to a domestic water supply from another supply used for non- domestic purposes on a commercial premises

  A consumer called their water company in February to report that their tap water was cloudy and discoloured in appearance. The water company gave general advice about the causes of aeration and discolouration; however, a week later the consumer reported the problem again. When samples were collected two days later the water was cloudy, but […]

  • Ref: 2012/7
• Best practice in relation to co-regulation of drinking water safety at premises by water companies and local authorities

  This case study relates to an estate serving approximately 30 consumers in a mixture of domestic and commercial premises including owner-occupied and rented property, offices and two food premises. The estate was included in the local water company’s compliance monitoring programme because some of the premises appeared on the company’s billing record. A random tap […]

  • Ref: 2011/05
• Change of use of a private supply from a single domestic dwelling to a food premises

  This case study relates to a spring supply to a single domestic dwelling. The local authority received a request for advice about water quality from the owners of the property, which at that time was exempt from the monitoring requirements of the regulations. The local authority referred the owner to guidance on source protection available […]

  • Ref: 2011/07
• Lead in drinking water, the overlooked health risk in small domestic private supplies?

  This case study relates to a private supply that serves 13 dwellings, some of which are rented. Historically, the local authority collected a bacteriological sample every other year. These previous samples were positive for coliform bacteria and treatment of the supply had been recommended, but no action taken. The risk assessment under the new regulations […]

  • Ref: 2011/06
• Use of Environment Agency data to inform audit monitoring

  This small borehole supply is located in grazing land for dairy cattle and serves two domestic dwellings and a milking parlour. The supply is disinfected with chlorine before distribution to all the properties on the site The supply has a record of satisfactory microbiological results, although historically only a limited chemical analysis was carried out […]

  • Ref: 2011/04