Notice of Regulation: Kniver Water Treatment Works

THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2016 (as amended)

NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 28(4)

SOUTH STAFFS WATER: Kinver WTW nitrate removal scheme

Reference: SST-2018-00001

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): South Staffordshire Water Plc, with registered number 02662742(hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets affected:
Kinver WTW TK1PW
Cookley WTW TCOPW

Associated supply systems: Y1;Y4;Y6;Y8;Y9;Y10;Y11;Y12;Y14;Y15;Y17;Y19;Y20
Barr Beacon 1 Supply System, Barr Beacon Supply System, Cawney Hill Supply System, Hayley Green Supply System, Rugely/Cannock Low Supply System, Sedgely Supply System, Shavers End 2 Supply System, Shavers End Supply System, Springsmire Supply System, Sutton Coldfield Supply System, Walsall 1 Supply System, Walsall Supply System, West Bromwich Supply System

  1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received a set of regulation 28(1) reports of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’) from the Company dated 11 September 2018, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from the Cookley/Kinver WTW system (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health.
  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:
  • Nitrate

  1. The Company are required to satisfy the following:

Requirements

(a) to maintain the following measures for the period specified in each case

  1. Operation of Kinver and Cookley sites to current policy, procedures and to internally agreed process parameters
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice
  2. Operation and monitoring of the current nitrate blending arrangements for Kinver and Cookley
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice
  3. Ongoing monitoring of regulatory and enhanced frequency operational sample results and on-line monitoring data.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice
  4. Continue with current and planned catchment management activities for mitigation of risks for nitrate.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice

(b) to review, revise and/or make operational the following measures, by the date specified below:

  1. Carry out further investigation into the contribution of nitrate to the boreholes from the River Stour, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and the Roundhill STW discharge and the potential impact of the point sources within the Kinver and Cookley catchments
    Date: by 31 March 2022
  2. Design a programme, engage with stakeholders, and carry out nitrate reduction measures in the Cookley and Kinver catchments. This should include but not be limited to the measures identified in the Kinver Nitrate Investigation report and the Cookley Nitrate Investigation Summary Reports for arable and livestock farms.
    Date: by 31 March 2023
  3. The company shall provide an overview of its operational strategy for maintaining nitrate below the standard prescribed by the Water Supply (Water Quality) regulations 2016 as amended This must include contingency plans in case the nitrate concentration should increase beyond the current blending measures.
    Date: Complete
  4. Carry out further intensive investigations to confirm the technical solution for nitrate removal at Kinver WTW.
    Date: By 31 March 2022
  5. Confirm steps, timetable, programme, completion date and location for installation of Ion Exchange treatment plant (or identified solution)
    Date: By 31 March 2023
  6. Complete the planning, design and procurement arrangements for the installation of an Ion Exchange plant (or identified solution)
    Date: By 31 March 2024
  7. Complete the construction, installation and commissioning of an Ion Exchange plant.
    Date: By 30 April 2024

(c) to audit whether the measures have been effective by the following means:

  1. Nitrate samples to be collected weekly from all four boreholes and weekly from the final water. Nitrate levels to be sampled ten times per year in Distribution.
    Date: For duration of notice

(d) not to supply water for regulation 4(1) purposes from Kinver/Cookley works unless the conditions specified 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 risk of supplying water that would constitute a potential danger to human health:

Provide a progress report annually by 31 January and against the following milestones:

  1. The company shall provide an overview of its operational strategy for maintaining nitrate below the standard prescribed by the Water Supply (Water Quality) regulations 2016, including review of blending options, review of any treatment, and contingency plans in the event of a sudden increase in nitrate concentrations.
    Date: Complete
  2. The company shall provide a catchment management plan for nitrate reduction work in the Kinver and Cookley catchments.
    Date: By 30 April 2022
  3. Provide a report detailing confirmation of the technical solution for nitrate removal and the steps, timetable, programme and location for installation of the chosen treatment process.
    Date: By 30 April 2023
  4. Confirm the completion of the planning, design and procurement arrangements for the installation of an Ion Exchange plant (or identified solution).
    Date: By 30 April 2024
  5. Confirm the completion of the construction, installation and commissioning of an Ion Exchange plant.
    Date: By 31 May 2024
  6. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: By 31 May 2025

  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, mayby 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
Nick Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector
15 December 2021
Reference: SST-2018-00001
Version 2

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