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Northumbrian Water Limited – Fowberry Treatment Works

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

Reference: NNE-2018-00001

Version Number: 6

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:

  • Fowberry Water Treatment Works (T0700323)
  • North Northumberland Potable Supply System 1 (YNSZ01)

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 05 September 2018, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Fowberry Treatment Works (and associated assets as applicable) 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:

Descriptions of risk

  • Failure to adequately disinfect
  • Failure to meet Regulation 26 requirements
  • Failure of treatment process- pH correction

Hazard/ Hazardous Event/ Parameter 

Hazard I D 

Chlorine

NNE_TRE_T0700323_H047_HE099

E. coli

NNE_TRE_T0700323_C002_HE099

Total Coliforms

NNE_TRE_T0700323_C001_HE099

Turbidity

NNE_TRE_T0700323_A002A_HE106

Hydrogen Ion (pH)

NNE_TRE_T0700323_A006_HE095

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. Maintenance programmes
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Manual shutdown available
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  3. Shutdown of individual boreholes based on borehole turbidity
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  4. Shutdown of individual boreholes based on final water pH
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Shutdown of individual boreholes based on final chlorine level
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  6. Run to waste available at individual boreholes
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  7. Run to waste available before chemical dosing
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  8. Alarms on hatches
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  9. Diesel generator available at each site able to power the whole process
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  10. Run to waste at individual boreholes on start-up
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  11. Shutdown override procedure
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  12. Vermin policy
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  13. Chemical turnover
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  14. Use of Regulation 31 approved products
    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. Caustic System refurbishment
    Complete
  2. Ice Pigging of 8” main from Fowberry Mains to Fowberry Treatment
    Complete
  3. Sign off non-compliant water plan
    Complete
  4. Run to Waste facility to be installed and operated to prevent improperly disinfected water from leaving the treatment works
    Complete
  5. Addition and testing of automatic turbidity shutdown to prevent improperly disinfected water from leaving the treatment works
    Complete
  6. Outstanding PPM’s to be carried out
    Complete
  7. Testing and operation of pH auto shutdown to prevent improperly disinfected water from leaving the treatment works
    Complete
  8. Installation and connection of Fowberry Borehole 1 main
    Complete
  9. Relocation of final sample point
    Complete
  10. Sediment analysis and review of 6km main from Fowberry Treatment to New Scotts Quarry Service Reservoir
    Date: Complete
    1. In order to complete b) 10. the company is building a new water treatment works (Wooler works).
    2. Complete Wooler works design and construction delivery plan
      Complete
    3. Develop commissioning plan for Wooler works
      Complete
  11. Inspect and clean New Scotts Quarry Service Reservoir
    Complete
  12. Disconnection and removal of pipework from network that is unable to be cleaned
    Date: Complete
  13. Carry out an investigation to ascertain the issue with the filter paintwork and provide a programme of remedial work including dates for completion of all outstanding work onsite.
    Date: Complete
  14. Complete the remedial work to filters in step b) 13 and complete and commission the works.
    Date: Complete

(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).
    Complete
  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 Fowberry Treatment 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 Wooler works design and construction delivery plan to Inspectorate.
    Complete
  3. Submit commissioning plan to Inspectorate
    Complete
  4. Confirm completion of Sediment analysis and review of 6km main from Fowberry Treatment to New Scotts Quarry Service Reservoir
    Date: Complete
  5. Confirm completion of disconnection and removal of pipework from network that is unable to be cleaned
    Date: Complete
  6. Submit a report detailing issues with the paintwork in measure (b) 13 and associated remedial work required and confirm any outstanding dates, indicated by TBC.
    Complete
  7. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Complete
  8. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  9. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  10. 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
  11. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 31 March 2025

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
29 May 2024
Reference: NNE-2018-00001

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