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Notice of Regulation: Franklaw Shutdown/Start-up to Waste

NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 28(4) OF THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2016 (AS AMENDED)

United Utilities Water Limited: Franklaw Shutdown / Start-up to waste

Reference: UUT-2021-00004

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): United Utilities Water Limited, with registered number 02366678 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets affected:

  • T163 Franklaw WTW
  • Y1502 Fylde
  • Y1511 Preston
  • Y1515 South Ribble
  • Barnacre Z065
  • Fleetwood Z066
  • Cleveleys / Hornton Z067
  • Warbreck tower Z068
  • Stocks Direct Z069
  • Blackpool South Z070
  • Lytham St Annes Z071
  • Preston North Z075
  • Preston south Z076
  • Preston Z077
  • Preston west Z078
  • Bamber bridge Z080
  • Leyland Z081
  • Chorley Z082
  • Heapey Z083
  • Preston Cow Hill Z327
  • Hodder extension Z333
  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 September 2019, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Franklaw Water treatment works (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health.
  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:

Hazard/Hazardous Event/Parameter

Hazard ID

Description of Risks

E. coli

T163C002240121

Suboptimal disinfection

Coliforms

T163C001240121

Suboptimal disinfection

Turbidity

T163A002A240662

Underperformance of first stage filters

  1. The Company are required to satisfy the following:

Requirements

(a) to maintain the following measures for the period specified in each case:

  1. Operation of all processes within defined normal operating ranges with appropriate triggers, responses and contingency procedures
    Date: For the duration of the notice
  2. Critical control points in the treatment process are monitored and protected by alarm via telemetry to the Integrated Control Centre
    Date: For the duration of the notice
  3. Franklaw treatment works processes operated to requirements of the Site-Specific Disinfection Policy
    Date: For the duration of the notice
  4. Compliance and operational data from the Water Treatment Works (WTW) and associated Water Supply Zones (WSZ) is reviewed as part of the Tier 1-3 source to tap process
    Date: For the duration of the notice
  5. Monitor coliforms, E. coli, turbidity, pH, chlorine residuals as part of the routine sampling programme at the WTW final compliance point
    Date: For the duration of the notice
  6. If a water sample exceeds a regulatory microbiological standard, the Company procedure QP40 will be followed
    Date: For the duration of the notice
  7. Issue advice to recipients, should improperly disinfected water enter supply
    Date: For the duration of the notice

(b) to review, revise or make operational the following measures, by the dates specified in each case:

  1. Confirm programme of work required to allow automated shut down of Franklaw WTW with permanent run to waste facilities, including confirmation that the project in use date is achievable
    Date: Complete
  2. Award contract for installation of automated shutdown and permanent run to waste facility for inadequately treated water.
    Date: 30 September 2022
  3. Install automated shutdown at the point of disinfection and/or final water compliance point to prevent inadequately treated water entering supply
    Date: by 30 November 2025
  4. Install permanent run to waste facilities for inadequately treated water
    Date: by 30 November 2025
  5. Review and revise individual shutdown and start up to waste quality assurance procedures and ensure all site personnel are competent and confident in all aspects of the revised procedure and subsequent works operation
    Date: by 30 November 2025
  6. Review and update drinking water safety plan risk assessment following completion of additional control measures
    Date: by 28 February 2026

(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 section (a) and (b)
    Date: 30 April 2021
  2. Implement, and keep under continuous review, the audit strategy defined in measure (c)1
    Date: For the duration of this notice

(d) not to supply water for regulation 4(1) purposes from Treatment Works, 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:

  1. Provide a progress report annually by 31 January and against the following milestones:
    Date: Annually by 31 January
    • Confirmation of audit strategy defined in step (c)1
      Date: Complete
    • Confirm programme of works defined in step (b)1
      Date: Complete
    • Confirm award of contract for installation of automated shutdown and permanent run to waste facility for inadequately treated water in step (b)2.
      Date: Complete
    • Confirm completion of work, that all relevant site procedures have been updated and all relevant staff trained in the new operational arrangements as required by step (b)3, 4 and 5.
      Date: by 31 December 2026
  2. Submit the strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in (c)1
    Date: Complete
  3. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  4. Submit a report in the event that any completed measure of this Notice needs to be altered in any way for any reason
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off
    Date: by 31 December 2026
  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
Nick Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
18 March 2022
Reference: UUT-2021-00004
Version 2

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