Notice of Regulation: Northumbrian Water – Tanks and Service Reservoirs
NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 28(4) OF THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2016 (AS AMENDED)
Northumbrian Water Limited: Tanks and Service Reservoirs
Reference: NES 2020 00011
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:
All service reservoirs, treatment works’ disinfection/ treated water tanks and break pressure tanks within the company’s operating area.
- The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received a set of regulation 28(1) reports of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’) from the Company on 21 October 2020, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Northumbrian Water Limited tanks and service reservoir assets that could constitute a potential danger to human health and could be wholesome.
- 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:
Hazard | Description of risks to drinking water quality and sufficiency |
|---|---|
• Total Coliforms (Confirmed) | To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth. |
- The Company are required to satisfy the following:
Requirements
(a) to maintain the following measures for the period specified in each case:
- Operate all service reservoirs and tanks in accordance with current company policy, standards and procedures aligning recognised standards of good practice.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Enhanced microbiological monitoring where service reservoir has not been inspected in accordance with the company’s policy. Including; where new risks to water quality from the asset are identified.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Complete frequent service reservoir and booster station maintenance check visits and escalate issues that present a water quality risk in accordance with company policy and procedures.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Proactive grounds maintenance on all service reservoir sites and at outflow discharge points.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Maintain records of remedial work completed on all cells.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Maintain contingency plans to protect human health in the event of a risk associated with drinking water quality, which should include liaison with local authorities and Public Health England.
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:
- Develop a service reservoir and tanks asset health policy setting out expected company standards. This must include but not be limited to;
Date: 30 September 2021- Inspection frequency (internal and external)
- Flood testing methods
- Age and construction type
- Contamination from ingress
- Contractors on site
- Presence of microbial contaminants originating from upstream assets or treatment stages
- Tank hydraulics
- Turnover/ age of water
- Pump failure on inlet
- Pump failure on outlet
- Telemetry information associated with cells
- Sample line, tap and kiosk expectations
- Hatch and air vent conditions
- Recommissioning and returning to service
- Ability to remove asset from supply for inspection and maintenance
- Redundant assets or equipment not disconnected
- Site maintenance- vegetation growth/ vermin control
- Site security
- Catchment risks
- Review justification and operation of booster chlorination.
- Following completion of (b)1. ensure whole company is working consistently across all areas to new policy and expected standards. Implement revised training to water quality and operational teams to facilitate this policy update.
Date: 31 December 2021 - Introduce methodology based on robust risk assessment tools to determine a risk-based inspection frequency of service reservoirs and tanks.
Date: 31 March 2021 - Utilising methods developed in (b)3 complete an assessment of all company service reservoirs and tanks to create an asset health register which will support risk-based decisions on inspection.
Date: 31 March 2021 - Confirm all service reservoirs and tanks that are over the company’s maximum inspection frequency standard and all tanks that are inoperable (cannot be removed from supply without enabling works).
Date: 31 January 2021 - Following completion of (b)5. determine enabling work required to remove and inspect the inoperable service reservoirs and tanks. Refer to designated sites in Annex 1.
Date: 31 December 2021 - Following completion of (b)6. produce an action plan of immediate and longer-term measures, to mitigate identified risks and complete necessary work to allow all service reservoirs and tanks covered by this Notice to be removed from supply for internal inspection and maintenance. This should be completed for all sites designated in Annex 1, and apply to the following risk-based categorisations:
Date: 28 February 2022- Inoperable tanks – water treatment works
- Inoperable tanks – network
- In exceedance of inspection frequency standard – water treatment works
- In exceedance of inspection frequency standard – networks
- Deliver the action plan produced in (b)7 for the designated sites in Annex 1, (allowing for any emergency, reactive changes in risk).
Date: 31 March 2025 (date may be subject to change following (e) i.e. submission) - Review all service reservoir and treated water tank site schematics and ensure drawings are up to date and include locations of regulatory sample taps, the outflow discharge points and all relevant valves.
Date: 30 June 2022
(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 section (a) and (b).
Date: 12 April 2021 - Implement, and keep under continuous review, the audit strategy defined in measure (c)1.
Date: Following completion of measure (c)1. and for the duration of the Notice.
(d) not to supply water for regulation 4(1) purposes, or not to so supply unless the specified conditions below are satisfied:
- Not Applicable 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 by 31 January and against the following milestones:
Date: Annually by 31 January- a) Provide a copy of the audit strategy as produced under measure (c)1.
Date: 10 May 2021 and updates where required - b) Service reservoir and asset health policy.
Date: 31 October 2021 - c) Methodology determining the risk based inspection frequency of service reservoirs and tanks.
Date: 30 April 2021 - d) List of all service reservoirs and tanks falling outside of inspection frequency standard or considered inoperable.
Date: 28 February 2021 - e) Report summarising the enabling work required to remove and inspect Annex 1 sites. Include the action plan of immediate and long term measures for mitigating risk and removal from supply ((b)7). Provide updated Annex 1 to include inspection dates for designated sites.
Date: 31 March 2022 - f) Annual progress report on the action plan delivery required under (b)8.
Date: Annually by 31 January - g) For any Annex 1 sites where inspection and all remedial work has been completed under (b)8 in advance of 31 March 2025 submit evidence demonstrating completion with an accompanying Regulation 28(1) report for the site, submission to include an updated Annex 1 list for this Notice.
Date: As required and by 31 April 2026 - h) Following review of whole service reservoir and tank asset base, confirm all site schematics are up to date ((b)9)
Date: 31 July 2022
- a) Provide a copy of the audit strategy as produced under measure (c)1.
- Submit a report in the event that any completed measure of this Notice needs 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: 30 April 2026 (date may be subject to change following (e)1.e. submission)
- 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
Laura Moss
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
10/03/2021
Reference: NES 2020/00011
Version 1
NES 2020 00011 Annex 1 – Designated Sites
[Revision: 0]
Designated sites covered by Notice NES 2020 00011.
Following submission of action plans required under (e)1.e. inspection dates for the below designated sites will be added to the following tables (due 31 March 2022). Under (e)1.g. this Annex will be kept up to date to maintain an accurate list of sites that remain a risk, either as inoperable or outside of Northumbrian Water Ltd.’s inspection frequency target.
Inoperable tanks – water treatment works
Site Name | Site Reference |
|---|---|
Horsley WTW | T0700330 |
Gunnerton WTW | T0700325 |
Whittle Dene WTW | T0700351 |
Inoperable tanks- network
Site Name | Site Reference |
|---|---|
WESTERTON SR | R0001940 |
SPRING HILL SR | R0700280 |
WHITTINGTON HILL SR | R0700312 |
In exceedance of inspection frequency standard – water treatment works
Site Name | Site Reference |
|---|---|
Hanningfield | T002 |
Holton Reservoir | T037 |
Walpole | T047 |
Eye – contact tank | T035 |
Broome – contact tank | T032 |
Allenheads WTW | T0700315 |
Honey Hill WTW no.1 | T0001706 |
Honey Hill WTW no.3 | T0001706 |
Honey Hill WTW no.4 | T0001706 |
Honey Hill WTW no.5 | T0001706 |
Honey Hill WTW no.6 | T0001706 |
Mosswood WTW – Sunderland Supply, | T0021824 |
Mosswood WTW – Sunderland Supply, | T0021824 |
Otterburn WTW | T0700339 |
Tosson WTW treated water tank | T0004807 |
Warkworth WTW – Southern Trunk Main Supply, Warkworth WTW – Northern Trunk Main Supply | T0700349 T0700388 |
Wear Valley WTW no.1 west | T0015216 |
Wear Valley WTW no.2 east | T0015216 |
Broken Scar WTW – North contact tank: | T0005104 |
Broken Scar WTW – South contact tank: | T0005104 |
Lartington WTW – East contact tank: | T0005166 |
Lartington WTW – West contact tank: | T0005166 |
Tosson WTW contact tan | T0004807 |
In exceedance of inspection frequency standard – network
Site Name | Site Reference |
|---|---|
BEDFORDS PARK RES COMP 4 | R0B2 |
TIPTREE RES COMP 1 | R031 |
BENFLEET RES COMP 2 | R067 |
DANBURY RES COMP 2 | R024 |
EYE TOWER | R084 |
CAISTER TOWER compartment no.1 | R081 |
CAISTER TOWER compartment no.2 | R081 |
FINNINGHAM TOWER OUTER comp 2 | R086 |
LONDON RD TOWER (Pakefield) | R098 |
ACOMB SR no.2 south | R0700155 |
AKELD SR | R0700156 |
BEACON HILL SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0700158 |
BEACON HILL SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0700158 |
BEACON LOUGH SR COMBINED no.2 south | R0020347 |
BEAUMONT HILL SR COMBINED – no.1 north | R0005036 |
BEAUMONT HILL SR COMBINED – no.2 south | R0005036 |
BILLY ROW SR COMBINED – no.1 | 0001635 |
BILLY ROW SR COMBINED – no. 2 | R0001635 |
BIRNEY HILL SR COMBINED – no.1 north | R0700369 |
BIRNEY HILL SR COMBINED – no.2 south | R0700369 |
BIRTLEY SR | R0700168 |
BLAKELAW ROAD SR no.2 south | R0700171 |
BRIDGEHILL SR COMBINED – no.1 north | R0001646 |
BRIDGEHILL SR COMBINED – no.2 south | R0001646 |
BROOMLEY SR | R0700174 |
CARRHILL SR COMBINED no.2 south | R0700180 |
CATTON BEACON SR | R0700181 |
CHESTER HILL SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0015729 |
CHESTER HILL SR COMBINED 2 | R0015729 |
COLDTOWN SR | R0700186 |
SATLEY (AKA DROVER HOUSE) SR | R0001793 |
ELFORD SR | R0700193 |
FIELDHEAD SR COMBINED – no.1 east | R0004766 |
FIELDHEAD SR COMBINED – no.2 west | R0004766 |
FLINT HILL SR | R0001679 |
GILSLAND SR COMBINED no.3 south | R0700199 |
GROVE HILL SR COMBINED – no.1 north | R0000680 |
GROVE HILL SR COMBINED – no.2 south | R0000680 |
HARFA BANK SR | R0000683 |
HIGH MOORSLEY SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0001691 |
HIGH SHIELD SR COMBINED | R0700214 |
HOLME SR | R0700220 |
HOLY ISLAND TOWER SR | R0700219 |
HORSLEY VILLAGE SR | R0700223 |
JUSTICE BANK SR COMBINED no.1 north | R0000692 |
KYO SR | R0700231 |
LONGBANK SR COMBINED | R0000717 |
LONGHORSLEY SR | R0004778 |
LONG NEWTON SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0005190 |
LONG NEWTON SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0005190 |
LOUD SR COMBINED no.2 south | R0001740 |
LOWICK SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0021323 |
LOWICK SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0021323 |
MALTBY GRANGE SR COMBINED no.2 south | R0000722 |
MILL HILL SR 3 SOUTH | R0700242 |
MINDRUM SR | R0700244 |
MOORFIELD SR COMBINED – no.1 east | R0700245 |
MOORFIELD SR COMBINED – no.2 west | R0700245 |
MOOTLAW SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0016186 |
MORPETH SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0004787 |
MORWICK TOWER SR COMBINED | R0700250 |
NORTH CHARLTON SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0019938 |
NORTH CHARLTON SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0019938 |
OBER LANE SR COMBINED no.1 north | R0000733 |
OBER LANE SR COMBINED no.2 south | R0000733 |
OTTERBURN SR | R0019808 |
PAGE CROFT SR | R0700258 |
PELTON SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0001762 |
PELTON SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0001762 |
PLESSEY SR COMBINED no.2 east | R0020040 |
RIDING HILLS SR | R0700262 |
RIDSDALE SR | R0700263 |
ROWLANDS GILL SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0001781 |
ST ANDREWS SR | R0001787 |
SALTERS GATE SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0001790 |
SALTERS GATE SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0001790 |
SHORESWOOD SR 2 WEST | R0700275 |
SPYLAW SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0015730 |
SPYLAW SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0015730 |
STAGSHAW SR | R0700283 |
STOCKLEY FELL NEW SR COMBINED no.1 north | R0001821 |
STOCKLEY FELL NEW SR COMBINED no.2 south | R0001821 |
THROPTON SR COMBINED no.1 north | R0700432 |
THROPTON SR COMBINED no.2 south | R0700432 |
TOWNFIELD SR | R0001830 |
WARDEN HILL SR | R0700293 |
WARK ON TYNE SR | R0700295 |
WATCHLAW SR | R0700297 |
WEST SWANSFIELD SR COMBINED – no.1 east | R0019947 |
WEST SWANSFIELD SR COMBINED – no.2 west | R0019947 |
WHICKHAM SR COMBINED no.1 east | R0016129 |
WHICKHAM SR COMBINED no.3 south | R0016129 |
WOOLEY HILL SR no.2 west | R0001982 |
WYDON BURN SR COMBINED no.2 west | R0013134 |
WYDON BURN SR COMBINED no.1 east |