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Notice of Regulation: Hardman / Laws Aquifer Combined & Cocking Hill WSR

Completion Date: 30/04/2026
Ref: SRN-2018-00021

THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2016 (AS AMENDED)

NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 28(4)

Southern Water : Hardham / Laws Aquifer Combined & Cocking Hill WSR Iron

RS006 – Cocking High WSR
ZS533 – Hardham / Laws Aquifer Combined

DWI Reference: SRN-2020-00006

THE SECRETARY OF STATE:

  1. has received a report from Southern Water Services Limited (the “company”) dated 13 October 2020 (the “Report”) which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Cocking High WSR and Hardham / Laws Aquifer Combined WSZ that could be unwholesome.
  2. GIVES NOTICE to the company under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) that it must satisfy the following requirements:

For risks associated with:

  • Iron

Requirements

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

  1. Enhanced iron level monitoring at Cocking High WSR.
    Date: For the duration of the Notice
  2. Take and analyse sufficient additional samples for iron throughout the year from Hardham / Laws Aquifer Combined WSZ, to supplement current regulatory monitoring.
    Date: For the duration of the Notice
  3. Respond as required to any PCV failures in line with company procedures. Carry out an investigation to determine the root cause of any failures.
    Date: For the duration of the Notice
  4. Maintain liaison with Public Health England and Local Authorities where there is a breach of the prescribed concentrations.
    Date: For the duration of the Notice
  5. Follow the site operating plan at Cocking High WSR until a solution to mitigate the Iron risk has been applied successfully.
    Date: For the duration of the Notice

(b) to review, revise and/or make operational the following measures, by the date specified below:

  1. All Galvanised Iron (GI) pipe work within Cocking Water Booster Station to be replaced.
    Date: 28 February 2021
  2. Carry out a flush of the main from the Booster Station to Cocking High WSR
    Date: 31 March 2021
  3. Investigate issue and confirm notional solution to mitigate risk of high iron levels within the network. Confirm the date the detailed design with delivery dates will be completed (action 4).
    Date: 28 February 2021
  4. Develop a detailed design to mitigate issues and provide delivery dates.
    Date: 31 January 2022
  5. Build and commission long term solution.
    Date: 31 March 2023

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

  1. Define and keep under continuous review an audit strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the above measures.
    Date: 2 Months are the Notice has been served
  2. Implement the audit strategy defined in (c)1.
    Date: For the duration of the Notice.

(d) 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 risk of supplying water that would constitute a potential danger to human health:

  1. Provide a progress report annually by 31 January and against the following milestones:
    • Provide a report detailing the audit strategy.
      Date: 2 Months after the Notice has been served
    • Confirm that actions (b)1 and 2 have been completed.
      Date: 30 April 2021
    • Confirm scope of works following the investigations for a long term solution, to also include completion dates for measures (b)4.
      Date: 31 March 2021
    • Provide detailed design to mitigate the issue, including delivery dates.
      Date: 28 February 2022
  2. Review the risk assessment for Cocking High WSR and Hardham Laws Aquifer Combined WSZ as required by regulation 27(3) and subsequently submit a revised regulation 28 report accompanied by a signed board level declaration.
    Date: From time to time and by 31 May 2023
  3. Submit a satisfactory completion report.
    Date: 30 April 2024

Failure by the company to comply with this Notice may result in enforcement proceedings under section 18 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State
Milo Purcell
Deputy Chief Inspector
07 December 2020
DWI Reference: SRN-2020-00006
Version 1