Private water supplies
A private water supply is any supply of drinking water not provided by a licensed water company, for example, Severn Trent.
- private water supply could serve just one property or it could be a larger supply serving several properties.
- The water may come from a spring, well, borehole, pond, river, canal, or collection of rain water.
Under the auspices of The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2016 (as amended), all users of new or reinstated supplies must register their supplies with the Local Authority.
The regulations
A private water supply is any supply of drinking water not provided by a licensed water company, for example, Severn Trent. Such a supply could serve just one property or it could be a larger supply serving several properties.
The water may come from a spring, well, borehole, pond, river, canal, or collection of rainwater.
Classification of supplies
For commercial and large supplies serving over 50 people, a risk assessment must be completed once every 5 years, and sampling must be undertaken by the Council at least once per year, depending on the volumes of water used.
For small supplies serving less than 50 people but more than one property, a risk assessment must be completed once every 5 years, including appropriate sampling. This frequency could increase depending on the results of the risk assessment.
For single property supplies, which entail only one property without any commercial aspect, sampling and risk assessment are conducted solely upon the request of the owner or occupier of the property.
Private Distribution Systems refer to situations where a property utilizes mains water but does not directly pay the water company for the water consumed; instead, they pay a third party who is the customer of the water company. A risk assessment is necessary once every 5 years, along with appropriate sampling to guarantee water quality. If you're uncertain whether this classification applies to your supply, please reach out to us for guidance.
What is a risk assessment
A risk assessment involves surveying the source of the supply and its surrounding area to determine if any contamination is possible. It also entails examining storage tanks, treatment systems, and pipework. This process identifies both actual and potential hazards that could impact the health of those consuming the water. The Council has the authority to mandate actions to ensure that the supply is safe for drinking.
What sort of improvements might be needed
improvements that might be necessary include:
- Fencing off the water source to prevent animals from entering and contaminating the area.
- Enhancing drainage around the water supply.
- Replacing old or deteriorated pipework.
- Upgrading holding tanks for better storage conditions.
Additionally, the installation of filters may be required to remove or reduce the levels of specific substances, such as:
- Ultra Violet (UV) filters to eliminate bacteria.
- Reverse Osmosis filters to remove contaminants.
- Ion Exchange filters to eliminate metal parameters.
Charges
Under The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2016 (as amended), the Local Authority is obligated to impose charges on the relevant person(s). Currently, the visit and sampling charge amount to £67 plus analysis costs. Additionally, an hourly rate will be applied for risk assessments, investigations, and authorizations. For further details on charges, please contact the Environmental Health Service.
Ensuring good quality water is essential for everyday life. The Council holds a responsibility to guarantee that private water is suitable for drinking. These Regulations mandate the Local Authority to sample and analyse such water, and they possess the authority to enforce actions to ensure its safety for consumption.
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