Southern Water Services Limited – Yew Hill WSR and West Hill Winchester WSR
Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)
Reference: SRN-2022-00006
Version Number: 2
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:
- RH053 Yew Hill WSR
- RH051 West Hill Winchester WSR
- Y001 Hampshire North
- Y002 Hampshire South
- Y011 Winchester
- Y013 Southampton East
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 February 2022, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Yew Hill WSR and West Hill Winchester WSR (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:
| Description of Risk | Hazard/ Hazardous Event/ Parameter | Hazard I D |
|---|---|---|
|
Risk of ingress of surface water through the structures. |
Total Coliforms |
29653, 26987 |
|
Risk of ingress of surface water through the structures. |
E. coli |
29654, 26988 |
|
Risk of ingress of surface water through the structures. |
Enterococci |
29655, 26989 |
|
Risk of ingress of surface water through the structures. |
Clostridium perfringens |
29651, 26985 |
- 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 Yew Hill WSR and West Hill Winchester 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 - Weekly site security and inspection visits.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Quarterly visits to complete Water Supply Checklist Inspection.
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 the audit strategy.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Enhanced sampling using the Cryptosporidium rig on the Yew Hill WSR outlet as 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:
- Complete works to ensure Yew Hill WSR 1 is structurally sound, to enable its return to service.
Date: Complete - Complete site and pump surveys at Romsey Road WBS.
Date: Complete - Confirm the contingency plan to remove Yew Hill WSR from supply in the event of an emergency. Plan to include definition of emergency.
Date: Complete - Complete the installation of a new loose lay membrane at Yew Hill WSR 2.
Date: Complete - Produce an outline design for the scope of temporary works required to enable Romsey Road WBS to support supplies whilst Yew Hill WSR 2 is out of service.
Date: Complete - Complete temporary works to enable Romsey Road WBS to supply areas fed by Yew Hill WSR.
Date: 31 July 2023 - Confirm environmental surveys at Yew Hill WSR have been completed and whether work can commence to undertake enabling works to bring Yew Hill WSR 1 into supply and remove Yew Hill WSR 2 out of supply.
Date: 31 July 2023 - Complete enabling works and removal of Yew Hill WSR 2 from supply.
Date: 30 April 2024 - Undertake the internal inspection and flood test of Yew Hill WSR.
Date: 31 July 2024 - Plan, undertake and complete enabling works to remove West Hill Winchester WSR from supply for inspection and flood testing.
Date: 31 March 2025 - Complete the inspection and flood testing of the first chosen cell at West Hill Winchester WSR.
Date: 30 June 2025 - Complete the inspection and flood testing of the remaining cell at West Hill Winchester WSR.
Date: 30 September 2025
(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: Complete - 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 Yew Hill WSR or West Hill Winchester WSR, or not to so supply unless the specified conditions below are satisfied:
- 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:
- Provide a progress report annually.
Date: by 31 January each year. - Submit a report confirming the findings of the site and pump surveys at Romsey Road WBS and confirmation works to ensure Yew Hill WSR 1 is structurally sound to enable its return to service completed.
Date: Complete - Submit a report confirming the plan to remove Yew Hill WSR 2 from supply in the event of an emergency. Report to include definition of emergency.
Date: Complete - Submit a report confirming the installation of the loose lay membrane on Yew Hill WSR 2.
Date: Complete - Report confirming an outline design for the scope of works required to enable Romsey Road WBS to support supplies whilst Yew Hill WSR 2 is out of service.
Date: Complete - Report detailing the temporary works undertaken to enable Romsey Road WBS to supply areas fed by Yew Hill WSR.
Date: 31 August 2023 - Provide a report confirming environmental surveys at Yew Hill WSR have been completed, what the implications this has on the programme of enabling works to bring Yew Hill WSR 1 into supply and remove Yew Hill WSR 2 out of supply.
Date: 31 August 2023 - Provide a report confirming the completion of enabling works and removal of Yew Hill WSR 2 from supply.
Date: 31 May 2024 - Provide a report confirming the findings of the internal inspection and flood test of Yew Hill WSR.
Date: 31 August 2024 - Provide a report confirming the completion of all enabling works and removal of the first chosen cell at West Hill Winchester WSR from supply.
Date: 30 April 2025 - Provide a report confirming the findings of the internal inspection and flood test of the first chosen cell at West Hill Winchester WSR.
Date: 31 July 2025 - Provide a report confirming the findings of the internal inspection and flood test of the remaining cell at West Hill Winchester WSR.
Date: 31 October 2025 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: Complete - 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: 31 October 2026
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).
Signed
Nicholas Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
24 March 2023
Reference: SRN-2022-00006 V2