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Southern Water Services Limited – Whitchurch CT

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

Reference: SRN-2023-00001

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:

Asset Name

Reference

Whitchurch WSW

TH017

Hampshire North Supply System

Y001

Table 1: List of assets affected and associated reference numbers

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 31 January 2023, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Whitchurch WSW (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

Microbiological contamination due to ingress

Total Coliforms

27421

Microbiological contamination due to ingress

E. coli

27422

Microbiological contamination due to ingress

Clostridium Perfringens

27419

Microbiological contamination due to ingress

Enterococci

27423

Structural integrity of asset at risk

No Supply

27477

Table 2: Table of the hazards, hazardous events, and/or parameters covered by this Notice, including the Hazard I D numbers and the description of risks.
  1. 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. Operation of Whitchurch WSW contact tank in accordance with Company policy, procedures and to internally agreed process parameters.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Ongoing monitoring of regulatory and operational sample results and online data.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  3. Enhanced large volume sampling and enhanced data assessment at frequency set out in audit strategy.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  4. Carry out daily (Monday to Friday) Process Science process trend reviews.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Monitor and track trends for customer contacts in downstream water supply zones.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  6. Investigate any reports of illness contacts in downstream water supply zones.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  7. 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:

  1. Review the contingency plan to remove the contact tank at Whitchurch WSW from supply in the event of an emergency where ingress or contamination of the tank is identified.
    Date: 30 April 2023
  2. Carry out surveys to finalise design requirements and programme of work to replace contact tank with new asset.
    Date: 31 May 2023
  3. Review scope of work required to remove Whitchurch Tower WSR from supply and replace with new asset.
    Date: 31 May 2023

(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: 30 April 2023
  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 Whitchurch WSW, 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. Submit details on the contingency plan to remove the contact tank at Whitchurch WSW from supply in the event of an emergency where contamination or ingress into the contact tank is identified.
    Date: 31 May 2023
  3. Submit outcome of surveys, scope of works and detailed programme of the chosen solution with future milestones required to complete construction and commissioning of replacement asset.
    Date: 30 June 2023
  4. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 31 May 2023
  5. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  6. 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
  7. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 31 July 2024

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
20 March 2023
Reference: SRN-2023-00001 V1

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