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Severn Trent Water Limited – AMP8 Cosford Borehole Pumping Station (BPS) Nitrate

Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)

Reference: SVT-2023-00010

Version Number: 1

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Severn Trent Water Limited, with registered number 02366686 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

Asset Name

Reference

Nurton Distribution Service Reservoir

R0232, R0233

Cosford Borehole Pumping Station

T0075

Water Accountability Zones: Wolverhampton North; Bridgnorth

SEV03; SEV04

Supply System

YSEV03

Table 1: List of assets affected and associated reference numbers

Details of this Notice:

  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 5 April 2023, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Cosford Borehole Pumping Station (BPS) (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health or could be unwholesome.
  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:

Description of Risk

Hazard/ Hazardous Event/ Parameter

Hazard I D

Deterioration of raw water source

Nitrate

T0075-253-T-A013C-A012-09J

Deterioration of raw water source

Nitrate

R0232-764-S-A013C-A012-09J

Deterioration of raw water source

Nitrate

R0233-765-S-A013C-A012-09J

Table 2: Table of the hazards, hazardous events, and/or parameters covered by this Notice, including the Hazard I D numbers and the description of risks.
  1. 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:

  1. Sample monitoring; weekly at the final water regulatory compliance point and monthly at the raw water sampling points.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Continue to improve competency of operational staff, in particular regarding the identification and management of risk relating to drinking water quality.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  3. Continue to operate existing treatment systems to optimise performance.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  4. Regularly appraise risk.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Maintain catchment management.
    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:

  1. Review and confirm the appropriateness of the proposed solution to provide Ion exchange treatment to reduce nitrate levels.
    Date: 30 September 2026
  2. Complete outline design and confirm expected start date for construction of the agreed solution.
    Date: 30 September 2027
  3. Commence construction of the agreed solution and confirm expected completion date.
    Date: 30 September 2028
  4. Complete construction and commissioning of the agreed solution.
    Date: 31 March 2030

(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 sections (a) and (b).
    Date: 31 March 2024
  2. 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 Cosford BPS, or not to so supply unless the specified conditions below are satisfied:

  1. 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.
    Date: by 31 January each year.
  2. Confirm the appropriateness of the proposed solution to provide Ion exchange treatment to reduce nitrate levels.
    Date: 31 October 2026
  3. Confirm completion of outline design and expected start date for construction of the agreed solution.
    Date: 31 October 2027
  4. Confirm commencement of construction of the agreed solution.
    Date: 31 October 2028
  5. Confirm completion of construction and commissioning of the agreed solution.
    Date: 30 April 2030
  6. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 30 April 2024
  7. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  8. 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
  9. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 April 2031

Further Details of this Notice:

  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

Nicholas Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
31 January 2024
Reference: SVT-2023-00010

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