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Severn Trent Water Limited – Rainworth Iron

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

Reference: SVT-2026-00022

Version Number: 1

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:

  • ZNT21 – Rainworth

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 13 April 2026, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Rainworth Water Quality Zone (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


Risk of iron breaches in the zone


A022 Iron


ZNT21-4685-CO-A022-A022-01A

ZNT21-4685-D-A022-A022-01A


Consumer acceptability (discolouration)


Discolouration


ZNT21-4685-D-H057-H057-AAA

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. Regulatory sampling for iron at customer taps in Rainworth zone.
      Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
    2. Monitoring, tracking and reporting customer contacts for discolouration.
      Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
    3. Responding to any PCV failure or customer contact in line with company procedures.
      Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
    4. Conduct maintenance flushing in accordance with company policy.
      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 an investigation to determine the risk of elevated iron within all DMAs in ZNT21 Rainworth zone.
      Date: 31 August 2026
    2. Confirm whether additional solutions are required to mitigate the risk of elevated iron within ZNT21 Rainworth zone, based upon the findings of (b)1.
      Date: 30 September 2026
    3. Confirm the most appropriate solution to mitigate the risk of elevated iron in DMA 12/330.
      Date: 30 November 2026
    4. Complete outline design of the solution to mitigate the risk of elevated iron in DMA 12/330.
      Date: 31 July 2027
    5. Deliver the solution to mitigate the risk of elevated iron in DMA 12/330.
      Date: 31 December 2028

    (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: 31 August 2026
    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 Rainworth Water Quality Zone, 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 on the findings of the investigation into iron risk in Rainworth zone.
      Date: 30 September 2026
    3. Provide a report confirming whether additional solutions are required to mitigate the risk of elevated iron within Rainworth zone.
      Date: 31 October 2026
    4. Provide a report confirming the chosen solution to mitigate the risk of elevated iron within DMA 12/330.
      Date: 31 December 2026
    5. Provide a report detailing the outline design of the solution to mitigate the risk of elevated iron within DMA 12/330.
      Date: 31 August 2027
    6. Provide a report confirming delivery of the solution to mitigate the risk of elevated iron within DMA 12/330.
      Date: 31 January 2029
    7. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
      Date: 30 September 2026
    8. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
      Date: Within 1 month of a revision
    9. 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
    10. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
      Date: 31 January 2030

    Further Details of this Notice:

    1. Any product or substance used as a result of the requirements in this Notice must comply with regulation 31.
    2. 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.
    3. 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).

    Signed

    Nicholas Adjei
    Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
    5 August 2026
    Reference: SVT-2026-00022

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