Archives

• A supply provided at a public waterspout – case study update

  Introduction  The ambiguity around ownership, regulation and who is responsible for water available to the public sometimes is more complex than might be expected.  One such case concerned a waterspout fed from a spring located at a roadside within central England. Being available to the public, protection of public health is central to assuring the […]
• Investigation following a breach of the lead standard on a regulation 9 private water supply

  Introduction  The detection of lead at any concentration from a private water supply used for human consumption is a cause for concern. Any lead concentrations found above the regulatory standard of 10 µg/L must be regarded as a potential danger to human health. The local authority must investigate and serve a notice in accordance with […]
• The Inspectorate’s powers and remit with regard private water supplies

  In November 2022 the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water received an email from an individual wishing to report the poor quality and insufficiency of the private water serving his family in a single property. The matter initially arose in February 2022 as a result of insufficiency following storm Eunice whereupon it was discovered that the […]
• Prosecution of a supply owner for not complying with a regulation 18 notice

  In 2020 the Inspectorate published a case study in its annual report entitled “An established private water supply that was discovered during CoViD-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions”. This supply was found to be periodically insufficient, unwholesome and a danger to human health. The following case study relates to the prosecution of the owner/controller of this supply […]
• Case studies: a private supply used as part of a public activity

  Introduction Specific and often unique circumstances can sometimes make it difficult to determine whether a supply of water, other than a public supply, falls within scope of the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016 (as amended) and The Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2017 (the Regulations) or not. This situation often arises where supply arrangements […]
• A private water supply with restriction of use advice in place for three years

  Introduction This case study concerns a private water supply that serves eight dwellings. The source of the supply is a spring that serves these properties via gravity-fed storage tanks. The supply is not treated as a whole, although some of the properties are fitted with UV disinfection units. The supply is maintained by a professional […]
• Identification of a Regulation 8 supply and successful joint working

  When drinking water is discoloured, consumers will almost always contact their water company as clearly such water is not suitable for consumption. Whilst it is part of normal business for a company to respond by investigating the cause, less frequent, but by no means unusual, is that such investigations discover the supply is not the […]

  • Ref: 2019/01
• Lack of risk assessment on an historic regulation 9 supply

  Introduction This case study concerns a private water supply which serves a community in Devon. The water is derived from a spring source in a rural catchment, predominantly used for farming. It provides a supply of water for domestic purposes, mainly to private residents, although some properties are rented by their owners for short term […]
• Improvements at a large supply (Regulation 9)

  Introduction This case study concerns a large spring fed supply, which is provided as part of a commercial activity. This feeds a village with a resident population of 200 which increases by 499 when a private party venue uses the supply. The source comprises several springs with collection chambers of differing construction materials, conditions. All […]
• Discovery of an onward distribution private water supply during CoViD-19 pandemic restrictions (Regulation 8)

  Introduction Private distribution supplies (regulation 8) are a water supply that is provided by a water company and then further distributed by the account holder to a third party on separately owned land, who are not water company customers. These were first included in the private water supplies regulations in 2010. Prior to this time […]
• An established private water supply discovered during CoViD-19 pandemic “Lockdown” restrictions

  Introduction This case study concerns a large, commercial and public use supply in the north of England, which until April of 2020, was not known to the local authority. The supply is a spring source which feeds several properties one of which belongs to the owner and at least one which is rented together with […]
• An established private water supply discovered during CoViD-19 pandemic “Lockdown” restrictions

  Introduction This case study concerns a large, commercial and public use supply in the north of England, which until April of 2020, was not known to the local authority. The supply is a spring source which feeds several properties one of which belongs to the owner and at least one which is rented together with […]

  • Ref: 2020/04