Alston Appleby Kirkby Stephen Penrith

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Private Water SuppliesThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Sara WatsonPrincipal EHO

Paul AvisSenior Technical Officer

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Presentation Aims• To briefly share our experience of dealing

with Private Water Supplies since the 2009 Regulations came into force and with particular reference dealing with potential risk

• To share a recent case study of a supply to a tenanted single property dwelling.

• To share a recent case study of a supply to hostel accommodation

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The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 (as amended)• Regulations are the means by which EU Directives

are transposed, implemented and enforced in respect of Private Water Supplies.

• Regulations requires Local Authorities to carry out a risk assessment every five years to all shared or commercial supplies and from this to establish whether there is a risk that would constitute a potential danger to human health

• To monitor supplies and keep informed about the wholesomeness of every private water supply in its area.

Risk Assessment

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• Risk assessments are used worldwide as an essential part of a drinking water quality surveillance and control

• Risk assessment is a proactive approach to identify the risks (potential failures of standards and risks to human health) and to take action to control those risks through a multi-barrier approach (for example, through source protection, treatment of the source water and management of the distribution network to prevent contaminants entering the supply system).

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A sample failure is not always needed…• A notice must be served following a failure of a

prescribed standards• A notice must be served when no failure has

occurred but the supply has been shown to be potential danger to human health through risk assessment

• DWI have noted that LA generally only serve notices on information from RA once a there has been a sample result breach – this is contrary to Regulation 18.

• 37,261 private supplies in England. Most are single supplies; only 11, 923 are not single supplies.

• 6.4% of samples contain unsafe levels of E.coli and Enterococci.

• Local Authorities still have 36% of Risk Assessments outstanding since the legislation was brought in (7,729 supplies).

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National Picture (2018)

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Cumbria and Eden

• The Cumbrian Group of Local Authorities has collectively around 3200 Private Water Supplies.

• Eden District Council, as part of this group, is responsible for 250 Regulation 9 - Large Supplies and supplies to commercial premises and approximately 350 Regulation 10 – other private supplies

• At Eden, all Regulation 9 supplies have been risk assessed once, but are now due for review. Many have outstanding notices on them with schedules of work and ‘boil water’ requirements.

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Eden continued………

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Borehole Supply to a Tenanted Single Property Dwelling

• Came to our attention through request to sample.

• Supply was thought to be an owner occupied single property dwelling and therefore outside the scope of the Regulations.

• The Borehole served a large family house but only occupied by one gentleman.

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Borehole Supply to a Single Property Dwelling

• The Regulation 18 notice required a new chamber with a tight fitting lid.

• The well head to be inspected and corrected.• Chamber made water tight and drained.• General area cleaned and prohibit the passage of

stock.• That the UV was serviced and maintained on an

annual contract basis by a suitable engineer.

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Borehole Supply to a Single Property Dwelling

• The analysis indicated the water was of an acceptable standard.

• The UV was serviced within two days and is now covered by a maintenance contract.

• Head works repaired within the week with new well head.

• New chamber, drain and secure lid installed within the month.

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Surface Water Supply to Bunkhouses and Hostel

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• History of grazing.

• Evidence of wildlife.

• Collection tanks not protected.

• No maintenance in last twelve months.

• No vermin proof covers on header tanks.

• Header tanks not recently cleaned.

• UV lamps not operating.

Risk Assessment indicated…

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Header 1Header 2 • Bullet points

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Picture of holding tankHeader 2 • Bullet points

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Header 1Header 2 • Bullet points

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• Sheep graze the whole area and there is a high level of probability that sheep will gain access to the storage tank area from time to time and the existing fence should be made stock proof.

• During inspection, a number of storage tanks located within the properties and at the source were found not to have tight fitting lids. These should be replaced with suitable vermin proof, food grade storage tanks with tight fitting lids.

• These header/storage tanks along with the whole system should be cleaned annually.

• UV System required upgrading.

Conclusion of Risk Assessment

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• Required any water intended for human consumption, food preparation, or cooking, or part of a food undertaking be boiled before use.

• Provide the Council within 28 days. A suitable proposal to adequately treat the incoming raw water, the proposal to include appropriate fail-safe mechanisms to ensure, on no occasion, does raw water contaminate treated water held in storage in the event of a power failure or failure of the disinfection equipment.

• Provide a written procedure for the maintenance of the above equipment. The procedure must include how the equipment is monitored to ensure compliance with the fail-safe requirement.

Regulation 18 Notice

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Header 1Header 2 • Bullet points

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Picture in treatment room following

• Bullet points

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Header 1Header 2 • Bullet points

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Conclusion• Regulation 6 is an effective tool for identifying risks

and hazards within the source to tap network that require attention.

• Local Authorities can then bring these items to the attention of owners by directing them towards the particular defects and the most appropriate course of remedial action.

• Through a pragmatic and practical approach the Regulations can be used to secure real improvements to Private Water Supplies.

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Regulation 9 SupplyHoliday Let

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• ullet points

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Questions?