Portsmouth Water Limited – Itchen Reservoirs
Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)
Reference: PRT-2023-00010
Version Number: 4
Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Portsmouth Water Limited, with registered number 02536455 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).
Assets Affected:
- RHH1 – Hoads Hill No 1 Reservoir
- RHH2 – Hoads Hill No 2 Reservoir
- RHH3 – Hoads Hill No 3 Reservoir
- RSH2 – Shedfield No 2 Reservoir
- RNEL – Nelson Reservoir
- RFD1 – Firdown No 1 Reservoir
- RFD2 – Firdown No 2 Reservoir
- RWM2 – West Meon No 2 Reservoir
- YWSP-HSH – WSP-HSH Supply System
Details of this Notice:
- 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 18 October 2021, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from WSP-HSH Supply System (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 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Failure to optimise poly-aluminium chloride dosing resulting in excessive carry over into downstream assets. |
Chemical Dosing – Failure to administer the correct dose – Aluminium |
PRT/HSH/TITCH/T10.3.1 |
|
Lead has previously been identified in the sediment within Hoads Hill Reservoirs 1, 2 and 3. |
Lead |
PRT/HSH/RHH1/R-IPA-1.1.28 |
- 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:
- Weekly samples for aluminium from the service reservoirs named in this notice.
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:
- Complete an internal inspection of the reservoirs supplied by the Itchen Water Treatment Works (WTW) and complete any necessary remediation:
Shedfield no 2 Reservoir
Date: Complete
Nelson Reservoir
Date: Complete
Firdown no 1 Reservoir
Date: Complete
Firdown no2 Reservoir
Date: Complete
West Meon No 2 Reservoir
Date: 31 December 2024
Hoads Hill 1, 2 and 3 Reservoirs
Date: Complete - Complete an investigation into the high levels of lead and other metals in Hoads Hill reservoir and complete any necessary remediation.
Date: Complete - Complete an investigation into the low levels of lead observed in samples taken from Hoads Hill 3 reservoir.
Date: Complete - Complete any required mitigation measures to address any risk identified under measure (b)3.
Date: 30 April 2025
(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: Complete - 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 the reservoirs named in this notice, 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. - Report on the completion of the internal inspection and any remedial measures of the Shedfield No 2 Reservoir.
Date: Complete - Report on the completion of the internal inspection and any remedial measures of the Nelson Reservoir.
Date: Complete - Report on the completion of the internal inspection and any remedial measures of the Firdown No 1 Reservoir.
Date: Complete - Report on the completion of the internal inspection and any remedial measures of the Firdown No 2 Reservoir.
Date: Complete - Report on the completion of the internal inspection and any remedial measures of the West Meon No 2 Reservoir.
Date: 31 January 2025 - Report on the completion of the internal inspection and any remedial measures of the Hoads Hill 1, 2 and 3 Reservoirs.
Date: Complete - Provide a report on the investigation into the lead and other metals detected in the sediment within the Hoads Hill reservoirs (measures (b)2) and any mitigation measures implemented.
Date: Complete - Provide a report on the investigation into the low levels of lead observed in samples taken from Hoads Hill 3 reservoir Hoads Hill (measures (b)3) and any mitigation measures implemented.
Date: Complete - Confirm the completion of any required mitigation measures to address any risk identified under measure (b)3.
Date: 31 May 2025 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: Complete - 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 December 2025
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).
Nicholas Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
3 December 2024
Reference: PRT-2023-00010