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Bulk imports from Anglian, Northumbrian, South East, southern, Thames, Yorkshire Water

WATER INDUSTRY ACT 1991(AS AMENDED): SECTION 19(1)(b)

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD, AND RURAL AFFAIRS:

  1. is satisfied that Independent Water Networks Ltd “the Company” in supplying water imported from treatment works operated by Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water which may be at risk of exceeding the standards for metaldehyde. This means that the Company is likely to contravene its duty in respect of supplying water which meets the Regulations under Section 68(1)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended) and meets the requirement set in regulation 4(2)(c) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended).
  2. notes that Independant Water Networks has on 24 April 2020 given a new undertaking (DWI Ref No: IWN-2020-00002) under the provisions of paragraph 2(b) of the previous undertaking given on 21 July 2015 (DWI Ref no: IWN3466) to replace the undertaking and to take the following steps by the dates shown:
  3. Steps to be taken

(a) Date: Ongoing

Ensure that metaldehyde has been assessed as a hazard as part of the regulation 27/28 Risk Assessment for the supply systems listed in the Annex to this Schedule of Works, according to a Drinking Water Safety Plan approach.

(b) Short term measures: Date: Ongoing as necessary until metaldehyde is not used in the open environment

  1. Companies shall implement all actions as defined in their actions plans submitted to the Inspectorate on 21st July 2015.

(c) Medium term measures: Date: Ongoing until the revocation of this undertaking.

  1. Continue to monitor water quality in all affected zones, as listed in the annex to this Schedule and to liaise regularly with these water companies on progress with the measures being taken to secure compliance with the Metaldehyde and total pesticides standards.

(d) Long term measures: Date: Ongoing

  1. Continually appraise the risk of metaldehyde and the total pesticides parameters as hazards in raw waters as part of the regulation 27/28 Risk Assessment for the supply system(s) associated with each relevant treatment works according to a Drinking Water Safety Plan approach, and ensure that Regulation 28 documents are regularly reviewed and updates provided as appropriate.

(e) Reporting: Provide DWI with reports on progress with carrying out the steps set out in the undertaking.
Date: Annually for the duration of the Undertaking. Reporting periods are Jan – Dec. Reports to be submitted by 31 Jan each year that the Undertaking is in place, (except for Jan 2025)

Reports to include at least the following details:

  1. Metaldehyde monitoring data for the zones listed in the Annex to this schedule;
  2. Details of contacts made with the supplying water company concerning the actions that company is undertaking to address the risk of metaldehyde in the water supplied.
  3. Any other relevant information.

(f) Date: When there is sufficient evidence of suitable mitigation of the risk (i.e. 3 years samples below 0.1ug/l and evidence of stable or decreasing raw water trends) or by 31st March 2025.

Provide a final report to DWI on the outcome of the activities undertaken, including by the incumbent water companies, the solutions implemented, and the conclusions drawn from other work carried out. Include, as evidence for closure for this scheme, appropriate documentation to confirm that the actions set out in this schedule of work have been completed and the extent to which the required outcomes have been achieved.

4) is satisfied that Independent Water Networks has given and is complying with an undertaking to take all such steps as appear to the Secretary of State for the time being to be appropriate to secure or facilitate compliance with the requirement of regulation 4(2)(c) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended).

Authorised by the Secretary of State to sign in that behalf:

Milo Purcell
Deputy Chief Inspector
Drinking Water Inspectorate
DWI Ref No: IWN-2020-00002
2nd May 2020

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