Enforcement Order – Section 18 of the Water Industry Act 1991
Southern Water Services Limited
Reference: SRN-2022-00011 Timsbury FEO
Version Number: 1
Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991: Southern Water Services Limited, with registered number 02366670 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).
Details of this Order:
- The Company has failed to carry out the steps identified in the regulation 28(4) notice served on it.
- The Company was notified on 13 January 2023 about the Inspectorate’s intention to make an enforcement order under section 18 of the Act in respect of contraventions of regulation 28(4)(b) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (‘the Regulations’).
- The Inspectorate has considered any representations or objections to the proposed order, which were duly made and not withdrawn.
- The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water makes this enforcement order under section 18(1) of the Act for the purposes of securing compliance with requirements imposed under regulation 28(4) of the Regulations.
Requirements:
- The Company is hereby required to complete the steps and reporting outlined in the attached Schedule of Works with effect from the day after this order is made.
Signed
Marcus Rink
Chief Inspector of Drinking Water on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
20 February 2023
Reference: SRN-2022-00011
Schedule of Works
Southern Water Services Limited
Date: 20 February 2023
Reference: SRN-2022-00011
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’
Water Treatment Works and Connected Supply System
- Timsbury WSW – TH004
- Hampshire South – Y002
Steps to be taken
The Company is required to implement the following steps by the date given in each case.
Steps to be maintained for the duration of the order
1. Continue the current control arrangements to mitigate peaks in the Nitrate at Timsbury treatment works.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order.
2. Monitoring and reporting the impact on any changes made.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order.
3. Carry out enhanced Nitrate monitoring and sampling at Timsbury treatment works.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order.
4. Implement an enhanced monitoring strategy for nitrate to include the monitoring of all high-risk raw water sources and associated final waters to supplement the current regulatory treated water monitoring.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order.
5. Report all exceedances of the nitrate parameter to the Local Authority and Health Protection team and agree further additional steps to protect public health as appropriate.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order.
6. Report all regulatory exceedances of the standards for the nitrate parameter to DWI as part of current monthly exception reporting process.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order.
Steps to review, revise or make operational
7. Complete the re-commissioning of the disused borehole and site refurbishment, including new or refurbished MCC, PLC, flow meters, MEICA and pump.
Date: 31 March 2025
8. Carry out commissioning of all works associated with step 7.
Date: 30 September 2025
Steps to audit the effectiveness of steps completed
9. Define an audit strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the measures specified in the order.
Date: 28 February 2023
10. Implement, and keep under continuous review, the audit strategy defined in step 9.
Date: Following completion of step 9 onwards.
Reporting
Provide the Inspectorate with the following reports as specified.
- Provide a progress report annually.
Date: by 31 January each year. - Provide completion report for return the disused borehole to supply and site refurbishment, including new or refurbished MCC, PLC, flow meters, MEICA and pump.
Date: 30 April 2025 - Provide commissioning report for return the disused borehole to supply and site refurbishment, including new or refurbished MCC, PLC, flow meters, MEICA and pump.
Date: 31 October 2025 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in step 9.
Date: 31 March 2023 - Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under step 10.
Date: Within 1 month of a revision - Submit a report in the event that any completed steps of this Order need to be altered in any way, for any reason.
Date: As soon as reasonably practicable after being made aware and in any case, within one month; ongoing for the duration of the order - Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
Date: 31 October 2026