United Utilities Water Limited – Watchgate Water Treatment Works
Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)
Reference: UUT3948
Version Number: 3
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:
- T046 Watchgate Water Treatment Works
- Y1492 Barrow
- Y1493 Blackburn
- Y1501 Eden
- Y1502 Fylde
- Y1504 Hyndburn
- Y1505 Kendal
- Y1506 Lancaster
- Y1511 Preston
- Y1512 Ribble Valley
- Y1515 South Ribble
Details of this Notice:
- 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 1 October 2015, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Watchgate Water Treatment Works (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health or could be unwholesome.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Contravention of regulation 26 because of a lack of non-standard shutdown and start-up to waste facilities. Resilience power project to prevent shutdowns. |
Total Coliforms (Confirmed) |
T046C001242719 T046C001242722 |
|
Turbidity -Indicator |
T046A002A242719 T046A002A242722 | |
|
E.coli (faecal coliforms Confirmed) |
T046C002242719 T046C002242722 | |
|
Potential simultaneous failure of the chlorine and back up sodium hypochlorite dosing systems due to being controlled by the same control unit, identified by the Company’s hazard review process. |
Total Coliforms (Confirmed) |
T046C001239949 |
|
E.coli (faecal coliforms Confirmed) |
T046C002239949 |
- 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:
- Operation of all processes within defined normal operating ranges with appropriate triggers, responses and contingency procedures.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Critical control points in the treatment process are monitored and protected by alarm via telemetry to the Integrated Control Centre and the site is manned 24 hours per day.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Watchgate water treatment works process operated to requirements of the Site-Specific Disinfection Policy.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Compliance and operational data from Watchgate water treatment works and associated water supply zones is reviewed as part of the Tier 1-3 source to tap process.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Monitor coliforms, E. coli, turbidity, pH and chlorine residuals as part of the routine sampling programme at Watchgate water treatment works final compliance point.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - If a water sample from Watchgate water treatment works treated water exceeds a regulatory standard, appropriate measures to protect public health will be implemented, including Company procedure WQ010.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Issue advice to recipients, should improperly disinfected water enter supply.
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:
- Confirm programme of work required to allow shut down of individual streams at Watchgate water treatment works with run to waste facilities.
Date: Complete - Confirm programme of work required to mitigate the identified risk of simultaneous failure of the main and back up disinfection systems.
Date: Complete - Complete programme of work identified in Step (b) 2 above to mitigate the risk of simultaneous failure of the main and back up disinfection systems.
Date: Complete - Complete programme of works for power resilience project including installation of power links between generators and installation of new modern Air Circuit breaker.
Date: 30 November 2023 - Complete programme of work to provide backup duty/standby dosing system to mitigate the risks of non-disinfected water leaving Watchgate WTW.
Date: 30 June 2024 - Complete a critical review of all mitigation measures at Watchgate water treatment works and identify any further measures that are required to achieve full mitigation of non-disinfected water leaving the treatment works.
Date: 31 December 2023 - Review and revise relevant, individual water quality assurance procedures and ensure all site personnel are competent and confident in all aspects of the revised procedures and subsequent works operation.
Date: 31 July 2024 - Review and update drinking water safety plan risk assessment following completion of additional control measures.
Date: 31 July 2024
(c) To audit whether the measures have been effective by the following means:
- Define an audit strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the measures specified in sections (a) and (b).
Date: Complete - 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 Watchgate Water 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:
- Provide a progress report annually.
Date: by 31 January each year. - Confirm programme and order of works defined in step (b)1 and 2.
Date: Complete - Confirm the completion of all works and that all mitigation measures have been commissioned and tested, as outlined in step (b)4.
Date: 31 December 2023 - Confirm the completion of all works and that all mitigation measures have been commissioned and tested, as outlined in step (b)5 above.
Date: 31 July 2024 - Report on the critical review carried out, following delivery of measure (b)6, including details of any additional mitigation measures identified as required.
Date: 31 January 2024 - Confirm that all site procedures have been updated to reflect the changes at Watchgate water treatment works and that all relevant staff have been fully trained in them.
Date: 31 July 2024 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: Complete - Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
Date: Within 1 month of a revision - 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 - Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
Date: 31 July 2025
Further Details of this Notice:
- Any product or substance used as a result of the requirements in this Notice must comply with regulation 31.
- 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.
- 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
22 June 2023
Reference: UUT3948 v3