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Current improvement programmes

Notice of Regulation: Thames Water – All Sites

Completion Date: 28/02/2024
Ref: TMS 3952

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

NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 28(4)

Thames Water Utilities Ltd: Cryptosporidium, All Sites

Multiple sites split according to risk based prioritisation (see Annex 1)

Legal Instrument Database Reference number: TMS3952

THE SECRETARY OF STATE:

  1. has on 21 October 2017 and subsequent updates in January and February 2018 received a set of regulation 28 reports (the “Reports”) from Thames Water Utilities Ltd (the “Company”) which state that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from all sites (see Annex 1 for sites) that could constitute a potential danger to human health and 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:

  • Presence of Cryptosporidium in final water
  • Contamination from sources of Cryptosporidium
  • Inadequate identification, assessment and mitigation of risks in catchment
  • Inadequate treatment processes leading to potential breach of regulation 4.

Requirements

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

To ensure that wholesome water is supplied to consumers at all times, in accordance with the requirements of regulation 4, maintain existing operational measures which must include the following at all sites (see Annex 1):
Date: With immediate effect and ongoing for the duration of the Notice.

  1. Maintain an appropriate level of sampling for Cryptosporidium.
  2. Operation of all processes within defined operating ranges with appropriate triggers, responses and contingency procedures with associated review programmes.
  3. Online turbidity monitoring pre-contact tank with appropriate alarms and failsafe shutdown where applicable.
  4. Ensure the works control and shutdown system is operational and that monitors are calibrated at the predefined frequencies.
  5. Enhanced operational monitoring for microbiological faecal indicators where appropriate.
  6. Continuously review all critical control points and mitigation measures for the duration of this Notice with a view to updating the Notice with additional measures where required. Ensure that any new risk identified is assessed in accordance with the Company’s Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) methodology.
  7. Optimisation of all existing treatment processes, to comply with the Badenoch and Bouchier recommendations1.
  8. Water quality response procedures for: investigation of contraventions including process optimisation and reporting; customer complaints procedures; event response procedures for event actions and notification criteria.
  9. Up to date Site Operating Manual (SOM), defining normal operating ranges, triggers, response and contingency procedures, with controlled update and review programmes. Internal waiver process is followed where deviation from SOM is required.
  10. Maintain contingency plans to protect human health in the event of a risk to human health associated with drinking water quality, which should include liaison with local authorities and Public Health England to agree any actions needed to protect human health and issuing of advice to consumers, where required.
  11. In accordance with the requirements of regulation 27(3), continuously review and revise as necessary the Regulation 27 risk assessment and submit revised regulation 28 reports to the Inspectorate as necessary, in accordance with the published procedure.

1 Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies, Reports of the Groups of Experts published in 1990, 1995 and 1998.

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

  1. The Company shall review the type of monitoring in place at its sites (listed in Annex 1) to understand its appropriateness in relation to the water type (i.e. raw or treated water and organic loadings).
    Date: 31 Oct 2018 (all sites)
  2. Complete a Hazard Review of the risk of Cryptosporidium entering the final water at all sites on a risk prioritisation basis (starting with sites in Annex 1 Table A through to Table E) which must include the following aspects:
    Date: 31 December 2020 (Table A, B and C sites) 31 August 2023 (Table D and E sites)
    • a) Review of any risk identified through the 27(4) Notice TMS3950;
    • b) Review of risks from identified pathways;
    • c) Review of each water treatment works compliance with the recommendations of the Expert Group on Cryptosporidium “Badenoch and Bouchier”1;
    • d) Conduct a programme of detailed catchment ground truthing surveys to inform Drinking Water Safety Plans;
    • e) Complete a catchment review to identify any relevant catchment management measures that can be implemented to reduce risk;
    • f) Review of all treatment processes currently in place for removal or inactivation of Cryptosporidium, including the consideration of maximum design capacities, operational envelopes and redundancies; and
    • g) Review and revise procedures for abstraction and reservoir management in relation to Cryptosporidium and turbidity monitoring data.
  3. Following the completion of measure (b)2.above; the Company shall review requirements for continuous monitoring of raw, in-process and treated water at all sites on a risk prioritisation basis (starting with sites in Annex 1 Table A through to Table E) to understand its appropriateness in relation to the water type and hazards identified through measure (b)2.
    Date: 31 March 2021 (Table A, B and C sites) 30 November 2023 (Table D and E sites)
  4. Following the completion of measures (b)2.above; the Company shall identify any additional risk mitigation or enhancement of current mitigation required to secure the long term protection of public health to consumers receiving water from all sites on a risk prioritisation basis (starting with sites in Annex 1 Table A through to Table E)).
    Date: 31 March 2021 (Table A, B and C sites) 30 November 2023 (Table D and E sites)

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

  1. Define a strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the above measures and to ensure a programme of ongoing proactive risk assessment is enacted incorporating any lesson learnt from the completion of said measures.
    Date: 2 months after Notice served
  2. Implement the audit strategy outlined above.
    Date: Until revocation of this Notice.

(d) not to supply water for regulation 4(1) purposes from multiple sites unless the conditions specified below are satisfied:

n/a

(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:
    • a) Report to confirm details of the strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures as specified in section (c).
      Date: 3 months after Notice served
    • b) Report summarising the outcome of the monitoring review completed under measure (b)1.
      Date: 30 November 2018
    • c) Quarterly Report summarising the outcomes of the Hazard Reviews required under measure (b)2 and confirming the outcomes of the reviews required under measure (b)3 and (b)4. This report will be used to inform subsequent site specific regulation 28(4) Notices, if required, for the implementation of mitigation where a risk to human health has been identified.
      Date: Within six months of the completion of measure (b)2. at each site to coincide with a quarterly submission date of:- 31 March- 30 June- 30 September- 31 December
    • d) Confirm completion of measure c) above.
      Date: 30 May 2021 (Table A, B and C sites) 30 January 2024 (Table D and E sites)
  2. Review the risk assessment for sites as required by Regulation 27(3) following the completion of section (b) and subsequently submit a revised regulation 28 report accompanied by a signed board level declaration.
    Date: As required throughout the Notice and 21 May 2021 (Table A, B and C sites)21 January 2024(Table D and E sites)
  3. Submit a satisfactory completion report.
    Date: 29 February 2024

Failure by the Company to comply with this Notice may result in enforcement proceedings under section 18 of the Act.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State
Laura Moss
Deputy Chief Inspector
28 September 2018
DWI ref: TMS3952
As required throughout the Notice and 21 May 2021 (Table A, B and C sites)21 January 2024(Table D and E sites)
Version 1

Annex 1 – Sites

All sites (water treatment works) have been split into tables based on risk from the highest risks in Table A to the lowest risk in Table E. Tables A-C list high risk sites, Table D amber risk and Table E low risk sites. Sites will be reviewed under this Notice following this risk prioritisation starting with sites in Table A and proceeding through the Tables to end with Table E sites. Sites within each table are listed alphabetically for ease.

Table A:

Site name

Site ref

Cleeve

T06U.639

T06U.640

T06U.641

T06U.642

Datchet/Eton

T03U.310

Dorney/Taplow

T03U.318

Table B:

Site name

Site ref

Ashford Common

T01S.008

T01S.009

T01S.001

Beckton Desalination Plant (Thames Gateway)

T02S.005

Chingford South

T02S.004

Coppermills

T02S.001

Dancers End

T05U.503

Epsom

T01U.119

Epsom (New Stream)

T01U.120

Eynsford

T01U.124

Farmoor

T05S.002

Fobney

T06S.005

T06S.006

Hampton

T01S.010

T01S.011

T01S.012

Hornsey

T02S.002

Kempton Park

T01S.004

Langley Vale

T01U.132

Pangbourne

T06U.630

Pann Mill

T03U.325

Shalford

T04S.002

T04S.003

T04S.004

T04S.005

Speen

T06U.613

Swinford

T05S.003

Waddon

T01U.169

Walton

T01S.006

Watlington

T05U.509

Table C:

Site name

Site ref

Addington

T01U.101

Childrey Warren

T06U.602

Hambleden

T03U.333

Haslemere (Sturt Road)

T04U.403

Horton Kirby

T01U.129

Ladymead (Dapdune)

T04U.405

Lane End

T01U.122

Marlborough

T07U.708

Millmead

T04U.404

North Orpington

T01U.136

Playhatch

T06U.628

Sheafhouse

T07U.704

Sheeplands

T06U.643

T06U.638

Upper Swell

T07U.702

Table D:

Site name

Site ref

Ashdown Park

T07U.723

Baunton

T07U.720

Bexley

T01U.102

Brantwood

T01U.170

Crayford

T01U.107

Deptford

T01U.115

Greys Road Henley

T06U.626

Hampden Bottom

T05U.504

Latton (M. Hampton)

T07U.709

Leckhampstead

T06U.633

Ogbourne

T07U.707

Orpington

T01U.140

Radnage

T03U.322

Seven Springs

T07U.705

Shortlands

T01U.153

Southfleet

T01U.156

Syreford

T07U.703

Wanstead

T01U.187

Wantage Manor Road

T06U.601

West Wickham

T01U.179

Wilmington

T01U.181

Woods Farm

T06U.619

Table E:

Site name

Site ref

Ashton Keynes

T07U.722

Axford

T07U.721

Battersea

T01U.121

Bedwyn

T07U.719

Bibury

T07U.718

Bishops Green

T06U.615

Bourne End

T03U.342

Bradfield

T06U.620

Britwell

T05U.501

Brixton

T01U.106

Chinnor

T05U.502

Clatford

T07U.713

Darenth

T01U.110

Dartford

T01U.114

East Ham

T01U.103

Enborne Grange

T06U.632

Harpsden

T06U.627

Hawridge

T05U.505

Honor Oak

T01U.128

Hungerford

T06U.603

Kangley Bridge

T01U.111

Lullingstone

T01U.133

Marlow

T03U.336

Merton Abbey

T01U.135

Mousehill/Rodborough

T04U.402

Netley Mill/Albury

T04U.401

Ramsbury

T07U.706

Streatham

T01U.158

Sundridge

T01U.160

Ufton Nervet

T06U.621

Waltham Abbey

T02U.236

Wansunt

T01U.173

Westerham

T01U.177

Witheridge Hill

T06U.625