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Northumbrian Water Limited – Spring Hill Service Reservoir Inspection

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

Reference: NES-2024-00008

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. Springhill SR (R0700280)

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 8 October 2024, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Springhill SR (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:

Description of Risk

Hazard/ Hazardous Event/ Parameter

Hazard I D

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth.

Total Coliforms (Confirmed)

NNE_STO_R0700280_C001_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

E. coli (Confirmed)

NNE_ STO_R0700280_C002_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Clostridium Perfringens (Confirmed)

NNE_ STO_R0700280_C004A_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Colony Counts at 22oC

NNE_ STO_R0700280_C007_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Residual Disinfectant – Total

NNE_ STO_R0700280_C010_CFH

To address the risk of ingress contamination and microbial growth

Residual Disinfectant – Free

NNE_ STO_R0700280_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 facilitate an outage of Springhill Service reservoir. 

DATE: 28 February 2025

 

  1. Carry out a trial isolation of Springhill SR to confirm that the enabling works and supplying treatment works, Murton WTW, can supply the area at all times of the day to confirm full outage is possible.

DATE: 30 June 2025

  1. Carry out all enabling works to facilitate this outage. This includes:
    1. Installation of Dynamic voltage restoration (DVR) at Murton WTW to protect site from short term dips in power supply.
    2. Lease or procure additional generators to protect site for medium to long term dips in power supply.
    3. Complete network modifications to aid supplying the area in the event of an outage at Murton.
    4. Carry out any work that can be done live to the reservoir to shorten the time of the outage and reduce the ongoing risk of failure at Springhill SR while we wait for the outage window.

DATE: 30 September 2025

  1. Train additional staff to provide 24-hour cover of Murton WTW during the full outage.

DATE: 31 December 2025

  1. Complete the outage, inspection and any remedial works and return the tank to supply as specified under measure (b)1. 

DATE: 31 March 2026

(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 March 2025
  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 Springhill Service Reservoir, 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 programme of works to facilitate an outage of Springhill Service reservoir. as specified in measure (b)1. 
    Date: 31 March 2025
  3. Submit evidence confirming that short isolation of Springhill SR has been carried out and that full outage can go ahead as specified under measure (b)2.

Date: 31 July 2025

  1. Submit confirmation that all enabling works to facilitate this outage has been carried out as specified under measure (b)3.
    Date: 31 October 2025
  2. Submit evidence confirming what additional training staff have received to facilitate the provision of 24-hour cover of Murton WTW during the full outage as specified under measure (b)4.

DATE: 31 January 2026

  1. Submit the report confirming the completion of the outage, inspection and any remedial works and return the tank to supply as specified under measure (b)5. 
  2. DATE: 30 April 2026
  3. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 30 April 2025
  4. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  5. 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
  6. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 April 2027

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 Secretary of State, 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 Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
27 January 2025
Reference: NES-2024-00008

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