Southern Water Services Limited – Itchingfield WSR Integrity
Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)
Reference: SRN-2025-00004
Version Number: 1
Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Southern Water Services Limited, with registered number 02366670 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).
Assets Affected:
RS014 – Itchingfield Water Service Reservoir
Y008 – Sussex North Supply System
Details of this Notice:
- 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 28 January 2025, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Itchingfield Water Service Reservoir (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health or could be unwholesome.
- 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:
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.
Description of Risk | Hazard/ Hazardous Event/ Parameter | Hazard I D |
|---|---|---|
Microbiological contamination due to ingress | Total Coliforms | 46083 |
Microbiological contamination due to ingress | E. coli | 46084 |
Microbiological contamination due to ingress | Clostridium Perfringens | 46081 |
Microbiological contamination due to ingress | Enterococci | 46085 |
Structural integrity of asset at risk | No Supply | 46139, 46140, 46141 |
- 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:
- Operation of Itchingfield WSR in accordance with Company policy, procedures and to internally agreed process parameters.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Ongoing monitoring of regulatory and operational sample results and online data.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Enhanced large volume sampling and enhanced data assessment at frequency set out in audit strategy.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Monitor and track trends for customer contacts in downstream water supply zones.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Investigate any reports of illness contacts in downstream water supply zones.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Carry out Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys at frequency set out in audit strategy.
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:
- Confirm the contingency plan to remove Itchingfield WSR from supply in the event of an emergency where ingress or contamination of the tank is identified. Plan to include definition of emergency.
Date: 31 August 2025 - Confirm the solution that will be implemented to remove the risk to water quality at Itchingfield WSR.
Date: 31 December 2025 - Deliver the solution, as confirmed in b2, at Itchingfield WSR to remove the risk to water quality.
Date: 31 March 2030
(c) To audit whether the measures have been effective by the following means:
- Define an audit strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the measures specified in sections (a) and (b).
Date: 31 August 2025 - 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 Itchingfield WSR, or not to so supply unless the specified conditions below are satisfied:
- Following inspection, the tank or reservoir will not be returned to service until all relevant issues which risk affecting water quality have been remediated.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
(e) To provide the following information in the time and manner specified below to enable monitoring of progress towards the mitigation of the risks:
- Provide a progress report annually.
Date: by 31 January each year. - At regular intervals, provide the Inspectorate with reports on progress made.
Date: Bi-annually, on the last day of April and October for the duration of the Notice. - Provide the contingency plan to remove Itchingfield WSR from supply in the event of an emergency where ingress or contamination of the tank is identified. Plan to include definition of emergency.
Date: 30 September 2025 - Provide report to confirm the solution that will be implemented to remove the risk to water quality at Itchingfield WSR.
Date: 31 January 2026 - Submit a report evidencing that the risk to water quality at Itchingfield WSR has been removed, include evidence of inspection, flood testing and completion of required remedial works.
Date: 30 April 2030 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: 30 September 2025 - Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
Date: Within 1 month of a revision - 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 - Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
Date: 30 April 2031
Further Details of this Notice:
- Any product or substance used as a result of the requirements in this Notice must comply with regulation 31.
- 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.
- 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).
- Contravention of a regulation 28(4)(d) requirement is an offence under regulation 33(1). If guilty of such an offence, the Company is liable on summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine. Under regulation 33(2) it is a defence for the Company to show that it took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.
Signed
Nicholas Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
31 July 2025
Reference: SRN-2025-0004 v1