Hafren Dyfrdwy Cyfyngedig – Higher Berse DSR
Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018
Reference: HDC-2024-00001
Version Number: 1
Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of The Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Hafren Dyfrdwy Cyfyngedig, with registered number 03527628 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).
Assets Affected:
- R18 – Higher Berse DSR Combined Outlet
- Z02 – Brymbo Low
Details of this Notice:
- The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received a set of regulation 28(1) reports of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018 (‘the Regulations’) from the Company dated 14 June 2023, which state that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Higher Berse DSR (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health or could be unwholesome.
- Consequently, this Notice is served on the Company by the Inspectorate on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, under regulation 28(4) for the assets listed above, for risks associated with:
| Hazard / Hazardous Event / Parameter | Hazard I D | |
|---|---|---|
| To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth. | Total Coliforms (confirmed) | R18-11110-S-H035-C001-23P |
| To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth. | E. coli (confirmed) | R18-11110-S-H035-C002-23Q |
| To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth. | Clostridium perfringens (confirmed) | R18-11110-S-H035-C004A-2YX |
| To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth. | Enterococci (confirmed) | R18-11110-S-H035-C003-2Q2 |
| To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth. | Residual Disinfectant – Total chlorine | R18-11110-S-H047-C009-161 |
| To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth. | Residual Disinfectant – Free Chlorine | R18-11110-S-H047-C010-1R3 |
- 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:
- Operate Higher Berse DSR in accordance with company policy, standards, and procedures, aligning with recognised standards of good practice.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice - Carry out investigatory sampling in response to any microbiological exceedances.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice - Maintain twice weekly (as a minimum) enhanced sampling (in addition to statutory sampling) for Higher Berse DSR. This must include, as a minimum E. coli, and total coliforms.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice - Maintain proactive external site inspections, grounds maintenance, site security and asset maintenance, including periodic inspections of hatches, seals, redundant assets, sample taps, overflows, washouts, and air valves.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice - Maintain an appropriate contingency plan for Higher Berse DSR (including liaison with relevant stakeholders as appropriate), in the event of the site needing to be removed from supply to protect human health.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice - Keep under review residual chlorine concentrations to ensure appropriate set points and trigger values are in place to prevent a deterioration of drinking water quality.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this notice - Maintain records and evidence of the identification, decision making, and completion of remedial work at Higher Berse DSR, to ensure a robust audit trail.
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:
- Produce a plan of the mitigation actions required to remove Higher Berse DSR reservoir from supply in the event of an emergency. Update the regulation 27 risk assessments to reflect this risk.
Date: 31 March 2024 - Confirm the appropriateness of the solution to rebuild Higher Berse DSR.
Date: 31 December 2024 - Complete the outline design for the construction of a new cell at Higher Berse DSR and associated pipework and connections.
Date: 30 June 2025 - Confirm the expected start date for construction of the agreed solution.
Date: 30 September 2026 - Complete the construction and commissioning of the new service reservoir cell at Higher Berse DSR.
Date: 30 April 2029 - Isolate the existing cell at Higher Berse DSR and complete a physical internal inspection including flood test.
Date: 30 April 2029
(c) To audit whether the measures have been effective by the following means:
- Define an audit strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the measures specified in sections (a) and (b).
Date: 30 April 2024 - 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 Higher Berse DSR, or not to so supply unless the specified conditions below are satisfied:
- 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:
- Provide a progress report annually.
Date: by 31 January each year. - Provide the plan of the mitigation actions required to remove Higher Berse DSR reservoir from supply in the event of an emergency.
Date: 30 April 2024 - Provide a report confirming the appropriateness of the solution to rebuild Higher Berse DSR.
Date 31 January 2025 - Provide a report summarising the outline design for the enabling works required at Higher Berse DSR, as specified in (b)2.
Date: 31 July 2025 - Provide the expected start date for construction of the agreed solution.
Date: 31 October 2026 - Provide a report confirming the completion of construction and commissioning of the new cell at Higher Berse DSR, including evidence of compliance with regulation 31.
Date: 31 May 2029 - Provide a report confirming successful isolation of the existing cell at Higher Berse DSR for physical internal inspection.
Date: 31 May 2029 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: 31 May 2024 - Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
Date: Within 1 month of a revision - 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 - Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
Date: 31 May 2030
Further Details of this Notice:
- Any product or substance used as a result of the requirements in this Notice must comply with regulation 31.
- Under regulation 28(6) the Inspectorate, on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, may by notice served on the Company, revoke or vary this Notice.
- 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 Welsh Ministers
13 March 2024
Reference: HDC-2024-00001 v1