Severn Trent Water Limited – Cropston WTW

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

Reference: SVT-2023-00002

Version Number: 4

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Severn Trent Water Limited, with registered number 02366686 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

1. T0142 – Cropston 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 May 2022, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Cropston 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
Prescence of per- and poly fluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in the source water	H067 – Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)	T0142-255-T-H067

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.

3. 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. Monitor for PFAS substances in the source water, at a frequency once per month.
   Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice
2. Operate Cropston WTW in accordance with company policy, standards, and procedures, aligning with recognised standards of good practice.
   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. Conduct a feasibility study to determine the most appropriate solution to mitigate the risks from PFAS substances in the Thornton Reservoir to Rothley Brook source water.
   Date: Complete
2. Additional milestones (to include outline design, specific targets related to the selected design and implementation of designed solution) to be submitted following completion of step (b)(1).
   Date: Complete
3. Complete research trials to understand the viability of activated carbon solutions.
   Date: Complete
4. Additional milestones to be submitted following completion of step (b)(3).
   Date: Complete
5. Complete pilot plant testing of potential treatment solutions.
   Date: 31 May 2028
6. Confirm the proposed solution.
   Date: 30 November 2028
7. Complete outline design of the proposed solution.
   Date: 31 August 2029
8. Complete detailed design of the proposed solution and confirm expected start date of construction.
   Date: 31 August 2030
9. Complete construction and commissioning of the confirmed solution.
   Date: 28 February 2033

(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: Complete
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 Cropston 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.
   Date: by 31 January each year.
2. Provide a report detailing the outcomes of the feasibility study and the proposed most appropriate solution under measure (b)1.
   Date: Complete
3. Submit additional milestones as detailed in measure (b)2.
   Date: Complete
4. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
   Date: Complete
5. Submit report on completed research trials to understand the viability of activated carbon solutions, as specified in measure (b)3.
   Date: Complete
6. Submit additional milestones as following completion of step (b)(3), (b)4 and e5.
   Date: Complete
7. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
   Date: Within 1 month of a revision
8. 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
9. Provide a report on the pilot plant testing and summarise the potential treatment options.
   Date: 30 June 2028
10. Confirm the proposed solution to treat PFAS at Cropston WTW.
    Date: 31 December 2028
11. Submit a report on the outline design of the proposed solution.
    Date: 30 September 2029
12. Submit a report on the detailed design of the proposed solution and confirm the expected start date of construction.
    Date: 30 September 2030
13. Submit a report evidencing the construction and commissioning of the confirmed solution.
    Date: 31 March 2033
14. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 31 March 2034

Further Details of this Notice:

4. Any product or substance used as a result of the requirements in this Notice must comply with regulation 31.
5. 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.
6. 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). Contravention of a regulation 28(4)(d) requirement is an offence under regulation 33(1). If guilty of such an offence, the Company is liable on summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine. Under regulation 33(2) it is a defence for the Company to show that it took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

Signed

Nicholas Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

16 February 2026
Reference: SVT-2023-00002