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South Staffordshire Water Plc: Air Valve Risk Assessment

Notice under regulation 27(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)

Reference: SST-2025-00001

Version Number: 1

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:

  • All treatment works, service reservoirs and water supply zones within the company’s operating area (South Staffordshire Water and Cambridge Water assets).

Details of this Notice:

  1. This Notice is served on the company by the Drinking Water Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State, under regulation 27(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) for the assets listed above, for risks associated with contamination via ingress into air valves.

Requirements:

  1. The company are required to satisfy the following:

(a) Carry out a risk assessment:

  1. Carry out a pilot inspection survey to assess current air valve asset health to validate and inform the company’s risk assessments and shape the programme deliverability.
    Date by which requirement must be satisfied: 31 December 2025.
  2. Following a microbiological failure at a treatment or storage asset, all associated air valves will be included in the event review in accordance with Company policy and procedures.
    Date by which requirement must be satisfied: Ongoing for the duration of this notice.
  3. Implement a procedure and process for risk assessing air valve assets.
    Date by which requirement must be satisfied: 30 September 2026.
  4. Implement risk-based maintenance activity on all air valves.
    Date by which requirement must be satisfied: 31 March 2027.
  5. Establish a risk-based response matrix for instances where an air valve is unable to be located on the existing register. The matrix will define response actions according to assessed risk levels, informed by learning from industry projects.
    Date by which requirement must be satisfied: 31 December 2025.
  6. Use the information gathered from steps (a) 1-5 to inform the company’s Drinking Water Safety Plans and carry out a regulation 27 risk assessment for contamination via ingress into air valves in all water supply zones operated by the company. Define and assign risk categories to the air valves, denoting whether the asset risk is negligible, low, medium, high or critical. Use this information to define and determine future inspection frequencies and validation of the risk assessment.
    Date by which requirement must be satisfied: 31 March 2027.

(b) Review of a risk assessment:

  1. Not applicable.

(c) Reporting:

  1. Submit the revised or new risk assessment (as appropriate) as outlined in section 1 and 2, accompanied by a Board level Director sign-off.
    Date by which requirement must be satisfied: As soon as reasonably practicable upon completion. It is anticipated this would be by 31 October 2027.

Signed

Nicholas Adjei

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

18 September 2025

Reference: SST-2025-00001

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