Current improvement programmes

Notice of Regulation: Northumbrian Water – Company Lead Strategy

NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 28(4) OF THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2016 (AS AMENDED)

Northumbrian Water Limited: Company Lead Strategy

Reference: NNE3279

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:
NSZ02 Mid Northumberland
NSZ05 Wansbeck
NSZ06 Tyneside
NSZ07 North Tyne
NSZ12 Wearside (DMA 060)
NSZ14 Teesdale
NSZ15 Teesside
NSZ16 East Tees

High risk zones are listed in the Appendix to this Notice, subject to review and amendment as necessary.

  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 26 July 2013, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water to its water supply zones (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health.
  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:

Lead


  1. The Company are required to satisfy the following:

Requirements

(a) to maintain the following measures for the period specified in each case:

  1. Phosphate dosing at treatment works identified through propensity testing or as serving at risk lead zones.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of the Notice
  2. An enhanced monitoring strategy for lead in the supply zones covered by this Notice. Small zones sampled 12 times per annum, moderate zones sampled 24 times, medium zones sampled 36 times and large zones sampled 52 times.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of the Notice
  3. Replacement of communication pipe in response to sample results (any sample type) greater than 10µg/l.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of the Notice
  4. Inform customers in response to exceedances of 10µg/l level and recommending replacement of lead supply pipes. The Company to offer supply pipe replacement at a cost to the consumer.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of the Notice
  5. With reference to Regulation 19A, appropriate use of powers to prevent contamination, if necessary by enforcement under section 75 of the Water Industry Act 1991, in response to failures of the Lead parameter in all buildings where drinking water is made available to members of the public.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of the Notice
  6. Provision of health advice by advising customers to flush water to waste before consumption/cooking purposes. A copy of this letter to be sent to the local Environmental Health department of the Local Authority.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of the Notice
  7. Ad hoc replacement of lead communication pipes at customer request.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of the Notice
  8. Replacement of all non-plastic communication pipes when carrying out mains structural rehabilitation.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of the Notice
  9. Completion of the existing s19 Undertaking to replace lead communication pipes (reference NNE 2927).
    Date: Complete

(b) to review, revise or make operational the following measures, by the dates specified in each case:

  1. A programme of lead communication pipe replacement in the highest risk DMA’s, based on analysis considering property age, lead sample results, where lead has been removed on an ad-hoc basis and where previous lead schemes have been undertaken. (DMAs ST039 and DS060 in the northern region).
    Date: Complete
  2. A Lead Advisor is to be appointed to target vulnerable groups of customers, co-ordinate Lead communication pipe replacement in vulnerable group properties and work with key stakeholders such as Public Health England and Local Authorities. The Lead Advisor will engage and communicate with at risk groups and target properties where vulnerable groups may be present, such as schools and private day care providers.
    Date: Complete
  3. Review and confirm the solutions and the project plan for the schemes to install pH correction at Warkworth, Whittle Dene, Broken Scar, Lartington and Mosswood WTWs by 31st December 2015.
    Date: Complete
  4. Complete the planning, design and procurement for the installation of pH correction at Warkworth, Whittle Dene, Broken Scar, Lartington and Mosswood WTWs by 31st March 2018.
    Date: Complete
  5. Install pH correction at Warkworth, Whittle Dene, Broken Scar, Lartington and Mosswood WTWs to achieve saturation pH and chemically stable water to minimise lead solvency by 31st March 2022.
    Date: 31 March 2022.

(c) to audit whether the measures have been effective by the following means:

  1. Define an audit strategy to assess the effectiveness of the measures listed in (b) above by 30th September 2014. To include as a minimum:
    Date: Complete
    • Enhanced monitoring for the lead parameter to continue at the annual frequency described, either 12, 24, 26 or 52 times per year depending on the water quality zone population.
    • A count of the number of lead communication pipes replaced, with sample data to demonstrate any change in lead concentration in water supplied to consumers
    • The Lead Advisor to have relevant key performance indicators established as part of the role and success will be monitored against progress with these KPIs.
    • Treatment solutions to be measured by saturation pH assessment and achievement of pHs targets on a site specific basis. To take account of specific water quality characteristics at each WTW.
  2. Implement the audit strategy specified above from 1st April 2015 until this Notice is revoked.
    Date: From 1 April 2015 and for duration of notice.

(d) not to supply water for regulation 4(1) purposes from the supply systems listed, 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:

  1. An interim report demonstrating the evidence of benefits achieved to date in respect of the Company’s existing lead strategy, covered by Undertaking ref NWL2927, by 30th June 2014.
    Date: Complete
  2. Provide a copy of the audit strategy specified in (c) above by 30th September 2014
    Date: Complete
  3. Confirm the Company’s strategy for the protection of public health and for compliance with the Regulatory requirements with respect to lead arising from lead pipe-work in distribution and consumers’ premises. The Strategy is to include the forecast scope of the programme to replace lead communication pipes at vulnerable group properties in the Company’s area, details of the communication and awareness strategies and other measures to address lead in high risk areas of the supply system by 31st December 2014.
    Date: Complete
  4. Provide progress reports annually to confirm progress with the measures by 31st January each year, reporting periods being January to December, beginning 31st January 2016 until this Notice is revoked and, additionally, if circumstances change.The progress reports shall include the following information:
    • A summary of all results of samples taken for lead analysis in water supply zones
      Date: Annually by 31 January for duration of the notice
    • The number of lead communication pipes replaced
      Date: Annually by 31 January for duration of the notice
    • The current state of progress with the campaign to raise awareness of the risk of lead in tap water to vulnerable consumers.
      Date: Annually by 31 January for duration of the notice
  5. A statement to confirm completion of the of planning, design and procurement of the pH correction measures by 30th April 2018.
    Date: Complete
  6. A statement to confirm completion of the of the all the measures.
    Date: 30 April 2022
  7. Continue to review the risk assessments for the Company’s supply systems as required by Regulation 27(4) and submit revised Regulation 28 reports (in accordance with Regulation 28(1)) from time to time as necessary.
    Date: As necessary and by 30 June 2022
  8. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 April 2023

  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
Laura Moss
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
03 August 2021
Reference: NNE3279
Version 2

APPENDIX – HIGH RISK ZONES COVERED BY THIS NOTICE

Treatment Works

Zones supplied from the WTW

Whittle Dene

N101 Killingworth, Fenham and Blyth

N102 Fenham B and C

N103 Fenham D and E

N104 Fenham F

N106 Low Service A and B

N107 Low Service C and D

N108 Hillhead

N109 Wylam Booster

N110 Carrhill

N111 Beacon Lough

N112 Whickham

N114 Byker

N115 Heddon, Whalton and Harlow Hill

N134 Hexham

Warkworth

N117 Blyth

N118 Cramlington and Stannington

N122 Amble

N132 Warkworth

N135 Hebron

N137 Morpeth

Broken Scar

T102 Darlington

T103 Yarm

T104 Hemlington & Coulby Newham

T105 Middlesbrough Central

T106 Nunthorpe

T107 Billingham & Middlesbrough North

T108 Redcar

T109 Sadberge

T110 East Cleveland

T111 Longbank

T112 Teesside Park & Stockton South

T113 Stockton North

Lartington

T101 Barnard Castle

T103 Yarm

T104 Hemlington & Coulby Newham

T105 Middlesbrough Central

T106 Nunthorpe

T107 Billingham & Middlesbrough North

T108 Redcar

T109 Sadberge

T110 East Cleveland

T111 Longbank

T112 Teesside Park & Stockton South

T113 Stockton North

T115 Lartington, Bowes & Mickleton

W109 Woodland & Cockfield

Mosswood

S101 Tyneside West

S102 Tyneside Central and North

S103 Tyneside East

S104 Sunderland West

S105 Sunderland North

S106 Sunderland Fulwell

S107 Sunderland East

S114 Washington

T114 Sedgefield & Aycliffe

W105 Sacriston

W106 Durham & Trimdon

W107 Spennymoor