• Case study 7 – An outbreak of Escherichia coli 0157 infection amongst users of a private water supply when staying in holiday accommodation

    This case study relates to the circumstances surrounding illness suffered by members of three independent family groups holidaying at two cottages served by a private supply in summer 2015. The problem was identified by epidemiological surveillance. The index case was a seven-year-old male member of a family group of 22 individuals that had been staying […]

  • Case study 8 – Risks associated with change of use from a supply for non-domestic purposes to domestic purposes

    This case study illustrates some examples of the legacy of historical deficiencies of the private water supplies legislation prior to the current legislation. This is illustrated in relation to a regional industrial group of Regulation 9 supplies located in south-east England. These supplies serve an area of salad growing nurseries, which supply produce to some […]

  • Case study 1 – cross connection with a public supply

    In April 2015, a Regulation 9 supply near Salisbury was risk assessed by the local authority. During the risk assessment, it was discovered that there was also a metered mains water supply connected to the private water supply network. This enables the use of mains water when there are problems with maintaining pressure on the […]

  • Case study 2 – Consequences of a lack of procedures, site schematic or communication about the operating regime for a private water supply.

    In April 2015, a consumer in Devon, whose water for domestic purposes was being served by a Regulation 9 supply, experienced flooding in the garden of their rented property. To relieve what they assumed to be a blocked drain, the tenant called out a plumber, who located a manhole cover and saw what he described […]

  • Case study 3 – Identification of a new Regulation 8 supply, and the need for local authorities and water companies to adopt a joint approach.

    In May a local authority in the Midlands became aware that the occupier of a single domestic dwelling in their area served by a borehole had ceased using the water for domestic purposes because they had problems in maintaining it. To maintain a supply to the property, the occupier connected into their neighbour’s mains water […]

  • Treatment requirements at a public building

    In September 2014, the Inspectorate was contacted by a local authority for advice on the treatment of water supplying a wedding venue, which accommodates up to 250 guests. Since the premises, (a large converted country house) holds community functions, the supply constitutes a Regulation 9 supply, as a public building. The supply was not being […]

  • What constitutes a ‘commercial premises’ within the context of the legislation?

    This case study relates to a common source of confusion where terminology relating to public and commercial use is often misunderstood and wrongly applied. It cites an enquiry which provides a useful opportunity to put into context the scope of the Regulations in terms of how Regulations 8, 9 and 10 are interpreted by local […]

  • Classification of tourist springs and wholesomeness issues

    Historic springs that are used as a tourist attraction It is not uncommon for a spring to feature as a tourist attraction at a historic site visited by the public and in such instances information about the spring must be on the local authority’s private supply record. Such supplies fall in scope of Regulation 9 […]

  • Determining the validity of historic agreements concerning the source of a private water supply

    In June 2014, a water company was contacted by a local authority about concerns they had about a drinking water supply as a result of carrying out a risk assessment. The source for the supply appeared to be located on land owned by the water company where there were cattle grazing and using a watering […]

  • Deershed Festival

    Since 2012, an annual three-day festival has taken place in northern England. Water is supplied for domestic purposes from a borehole. The borehole supplies a lake, which acts as a reservoir and the water is then piped to points around the festival grounds. As the lake level lowers, a pump is automatically started to draw […]

  • The objective and purpose of Regulation 8

    In February, an MP wrote to the Inspectorate on behalf of a constituent who was complaining about a ‘copper residue’ in her drinking water. In line with normal practice, the Inspectorate contacted the water company to find out if they were aware of the complaint and, if yes, to establish whether the company had investigated […]

  • Change of use from non-domestic to domestic purposes at a public building

    This case study involves a supply owned by an organisation which provides vocational training to teenage pupils. In 2010 it acquired a site comprising a number of metal sheds and outbuildings with water provided by a shallow borehole. The site at that stage was only used as mechanical workshops and the water supply was used […]