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Northumbrian Water Limited – Whittle Dene Reservoir

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

Reference: NES-2024-00001

Version Number: 1

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:

  1. Whittle Dene Water Treatment Works (T0700351)

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 21 October 2020, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Whittle Dene Water Treatment Works 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

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth.

Total Coliforms (Confirmed)

NNE_TRE_T0700351_C001_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

E. coli (Confirmed)

NNE_ TRE_T0700351_C002_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Clostridium Perfringens (Confirmed)

NNE_ TRE_T0700351_C004A_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Enterococci (Confirmed)

NNE_ TRE_T0700351_C003_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Colony Counts at 22oC

NNE_ TRE_T0700351_C007_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Residual Disinfectant – Total

NNE_ TRE_T0700351_C010_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Residual Disinfectant – Free

NNE_ TRE_T0700351_C009_CFH

Table 1: 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. Operate the service reservoir in accordance with current company policy, standards and procedures aligning recognised standards of good practice.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. 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
  3. Complete frequent service reservoir 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
  4. Proactive grounds maintenance on all service reservoir sites and at outflow discharge points.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Maintain records of remedial work completed on the reservoir.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  6. 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 UKHSA.
    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. Define and develop a programme of works to complete the construction and commissioning of the new wash water tank at Whittle Dene works.
  2. DATE: 30 September 2024
  3. Complete the construction, installation and commissioning of the new programme of works as specified under measure (b)1.
  4. DATE: 31 December 2026
  5. Define and develop a programme of works to upgrade the Harlow Hill distribution main and pumps to provide additional capacity to allow inspection of the inoperable Whittle Dene reservoir.
  6. DATE: 31 December 2024
  7. Complete the construction, installation and commissioning of the programme of works as specified under measure (b)3.
  8. Date: 31 March 2027
  9. Complete the internal and external inspections and any required remedial repairs on Whittle Dene service reservoir.
    Date: 30 September 2027

(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 Whittle Dene works, 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. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 30 November 2024
  3. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  4. 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
  5. Submit the programme of works to construct and commission the new wash water tank at Whittle Dene works as required under measure (b)1.
  6. Date: 31 October 2024
  7. Submit a report confirming installation, commissioning and completion of works as required under measure (b)2.
  8. Date: 31 January 2027
  9. Submit the programme of works to upgrade the Harlow Hill distribution main and pumps to provide additional capacity to allow the inspection of the inoperable Whittle Dene reservoir as required under measure (b)3.
  10. Date: 31 January 2025
  11. Submit a report confirming the construction, installation and commissioning of the programme of works as specified under measure (b)4. Date: 30 April 2027
  12. Submit a report confirming completion of the internal and external inspections and any required remedial repairs on Whittle Dene service reservoir as required under measure (b)5.
  13. Date: 31 July 2027
  14. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 31 July 2028

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: NES-2024-00001

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