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Northumbrian Water Limited – Broken Scar WTW Geosmin and MIB Removal Projects

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

Reference: NES-2023-00007

Version Number: 1

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Northumbrian Water Limited, with registered number 02366703 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

  • T0005104 Broken Scar WTW – Final Supply
  • T0005067 Broken Scar WTW – Darlington Supply
  • System Zones 14, 15 and 16 Downstream of Broken Scar WTW 

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 30 November 2023 which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Broken Scar Water Treatment Works (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

Consumer acceptability (earthy/musty Taste and Odour contacts)

Geosmin

NNE_TRE_T0005104_F050_CFH Broken Scar WTW – Final Supply (Geosmin) 

NNE_TRE_T0005067_F050_CFH – Broken Scar WTW – Darlington Supply (Geosmin) 

Consumer acceptability (Earthy Musty Taste and Odour Contacts) 

MIB 

NNE_TRE_T0005104_F051_CFH Broken Scar WTW – Final Supply (MIB) 

NNE_TRE_T0005067_F051_CFH – Broken Scar WTW – Darlington Supply (MIB) 

Table 1: 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. Sampling and Analysis at the catchment stage.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Abstraction management at the abstraction stage.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  3. Sampling and analysis at the abstraction stage.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  4. Sampling and analysis at the treatment stage.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Additional sampling at the treatment stage.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  6. Raw water monitoring at the treatment stage.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  7. Treatment management and optimisation at the treatment stage.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  8. Risk assessment at the treatment stage. 
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  9.  Shutdown at the treatment stage.
    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. Assess the current treatment processes at Broken Scar WTW including sludge management and downstream processes to ascertain whether to modify the current dosing system or design and install a new PAC dosing system.
    Date: 31 March 2026
  2. Select the treatment dosing system needed to allow Broken Scar WTW to achieve required dosing concentrations including for future projected levels.
    Date: 31 March 2028
  3. Complete the construction, installation (or modify the existing) and commissioning of the chosen solutions, designed under measures (b)1 and (b)2. Commissioning must include the following to account for the changes made:
  • An appropriate maintenance regime for any installed processes;
  • Full integration of the new (or modified) processes into the site control and monitoring systems.
  • Updating of the Site-Specific Disinfection Policy and any associated site-specific procedures;
  • Updating of the Site Operating Manual and removal of all out-of-date material from circulation; and
  • Provisions of adequate training for all relevant personnel on the operation, repair and maintenance of the installed (or modified) process and the revised procedures, policies and manual.

Date: 30 September 2028

(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: 30 April 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 Warkworth Water Treatment Works, 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. Submit a report confirming the decision, as identified in measure (b)1, regarding the choice to either modify the current dosing system or design and install a new PAC dosing system.
    Date: 30 April 2026
  3. Submit a report confirming the treatment dosing system chosen to allow Broken Scar WTW to achieve the required dosing concentrations including for future projected levels as identified in measure (b)2.
    Date: 30 April 2028
  4. Submit a report confirming the completion of the construction, installation (or modify the existing) and commissioning of the chosen solutions, designed under measures (b)1 and (b)2. Commissioning must include the following to account for the changes made:
  • An appropriate maintenance regime for any installed processes;
  • Full integration of the new (or modified) processes into the site control and monitoring systems.
  • Updating of the Site-Specific Disinfection Policy and any associated site-specific procedures;
  • Updating of the Site Operating Manual and removal of all out-of-date material from circulation; and
  • Provisions of adequate training for all relevant personnel on the operation, repair and maintenance of the installed (or modified) process and the revised procedures, policies and manual.

Date: 31 October 2028

  1. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 31 May 2024
  2. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  3. 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
  4. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 November 2029

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
13 February 2024
Reference: NES-2023-00007

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