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Wessex Water Services Limited – AMP8 Charlton PFAS

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

Reference: WSX-2024-00005

Version Number: 1

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Wessex Water Services Limited, with registered number 02366648 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

Asset Name

Reference

Charlton Catchment

C56060

Charlton Rod Bhpump1

A15300670

Charlton Rod Bhpump2

A15300671

Charlton Min Bhpump3

A15301670

Charlton Min Bhpump4

A15302671

Charlton Mxd Raw Bhs

A15300620

Charlton-Minety Treated @ Charlton WTW

T15100620

Zone 49 Allington

Y44000049

Zone 51 Charlton

Y44000051

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 March 2024, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Charlton WTC (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

Inadequate treatment process to prevent PFAS compounds entering supply.

PFAS (H067)

RSKASMT-0000013866 H067 T15100620

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. Regulatory and operational monitoring for PFAS of the raw water (individual borehole sources) supplying Charlton works, as well as final water as defined in our PFAS strategy document.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Continue catchment investigations to better understand the source(s) of PFAS in the catchment upstream of Charlton works. Review the PFAS risks from the catchment investigations and continue to understand catchment management opportunities and control measures.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  3. Engage with public health teams should concentrations of PFAS increase to concentrations >0.01 ug/l.
    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. Complete planning and design the new treatment facility at Charlton works, to include a treatment solution for PFAS.
    Date: 31 March 2029.
  2. Procure land and obtain planning permission for the solution developed in measure b(1).
    Date: 31 March 2029.
  3. Devise a detailed plan, with suitable timescales to complete the procurement, installation and commissioning, and make operational, the treatment solution chosen in measure (b)1.
    Date: 31 March 2030.
  4. Complete the installation and commissioning, and make operational, the treatment solution chosen in measure (b)1.
    Date: 31 March 2035.

(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 October 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 Charlton WTC, 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. Provide a report to confirm the completion of stages (b)1 and (b)2.
    Date: 30 April 2029.
  3. Submit the plan and timescales for the installation and commissioning of the chosen treatment solution, as specified in measure (b)3.
    Date: 30 April 2030.
  4. Submit a report to confirm the completion of the installation and commissioning of the chosen treatment solution, as specified in measure (b)4.
    Date: 30 April 2035.
  5. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 30 November 2024.
  6. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision.
  7. 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.
  8. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 April 2036.

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
27 August 2024
Reference: WSX-2024-00005 v1

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