NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 6(12) OF THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2016 (AS AMENDED) (“THE 2016 REGULATIONS”)

RADIOACTIVTY MONITORING OF WATER SUPPLIES

1. This Notice is made by the Secretary of State under the power in regulation 6(12) of the 2016 Regulations. It takes effect from 01 October 2018. It will expire on 30 September 2023, unless otherwise withdrawn.
2. Regulation 6(7) to (15) of the 2016 Regulations relates to the monitoring by water companies of radioactive parameters in the water supply zones they supply. Specifically, regulation 6 requires water companies to monitor parameters for indicative doses, tritium and radon.
3. Regulation 6(12) of the 2016 Regulations provides that the Secretary of State may notify a water company that a radioactive parameter need not be monitored if he is satisfied that, for the period specified in the notice and for the purposes of regulation 4(1), the water supplied to that zone:
   1. gives risk to a calculated indicative dose (Gross α, gross β) that is below the parametric value specified in Schedule 2 to the 2016 Regulations;
   2. contains levels of tritium and radon that are below the parametric value specified in Schedule 2 to the 2016 Regulations.
   3. contains levels of tritium that are below the parametric value specified in Schedule 2 to the 2016 Regulations.
4. Based on the evidence presented by SSE Water Limited, the Secretary of State, is satisfied that the water supplied to the water supply zones listed in the Schedule to the Notice (“the Schedule”) contains levels of calculated total indicative dose (Gross α, gross β), radon and tritium that are below the parametric values specified in the relevant part of Schedule 2 to the 2016 Regulations.
5. Accordingly, for the period the Notice has effect, SSE Water Limited need not conduct regulatory monitoring for calculated total indicative dose (Gross α, gross β), radon and tritium for the SSE Water Limited zones listed in the Schedule (as indicated).
6. Pursuant to regulation 6(14) of the 2016 Regulations, the Secretary of State must, by notice in writing, withdraw this notice if he has reason to believe that water supplied to the zone in question, for regulation 4(1) purposes, gives rise to a calculated indicative dose, or contains levels of radon or tritium which are likely to exceed the parametric value specified in Schedule 2 of the 2016 Regulations.
7. In the event that this notice is withdrawn under regulation 6(14), SSE Water Limited must monitor the relevant parameter in accordance with Tables 2 and 3 in Schedule 3 to the 2016 Regulations.

Signed

Marcus Rink

Chief Inspector of Drinking Water for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

13 November 2018

DWI Ref: SSE-2018-00001