South East Water Limited – Barcombe Bankside Storage
Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)
Reference: SEW-2023-00014
Version Number: 1
Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): South East Water Limited, with registered number 02679874 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).
Assets Affected:
|
Asset Name |
Reference |
|---|---|
|
Barcombe No.1 Treatment Works Supply System |
Y030 |
|
Barcombe No.2 Treatment Works Supply System |
Y031 |
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 30 November 2023, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Barcombe (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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Enhanced risk of presence of microbiological parameter |
E. coli |
T030-TREATMENT-C002 T031-TREATMENT-C002 |
|
Enhanced risk of presence of microbiological parameter |
Total Coliforms |
T030-TREATMENT-C001 T031-TREATMENT-C001 |
|
Enhanced risk of presence of microbiological parameter |
Enterococci |
T030-TREATMENT-C003 T031-TREATMENT-C003 |
|
Enhanced risk of presence of microbiological parameter |
Clostridium |
T030-TREATMENT-C004A T031-TREATMENT-C004A |
|
Enhanced risk of presence of microbiological parameter |
Cryptosporidium |
T030-TREATMENT-C111 T031-TREATMENT-C111 |
- 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:
- Continued implementation of raw water management strategy to ensure treatment processes are not compromised and forced to operate outside operational limits
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Enhanced monitoring of risk parameters in raw and treated water.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Ensure that works operators have an adequate recourse to scientific water quality and management support in the event of a deterioration in works performance.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Ensure adequate maintenance and operation of existing LG ultrasonic units including regular dissemination of Water Quality data to LG to ensure appropriate ultrasonic frequency is used.
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 full dredging of Barcombe impounding reservoir.
Date: 31 March 2029 - Install cascading aeration system along with a baffled inlet to the impounding reservoir.
Date: 31 March 2029 - Complete bathometric survey on impounding reservoir to understand the impacts of actions (b)1. and (b)2. and the on-going condition of the impounding reservoir.
Date: 31 March 2030 - Upgrade of current ultrasonics to include the measurement of additional parameters enabling better control of algae.
Date: 31 March 2027 - Installation of additional monitoring (phosphate and organics) on the river intake of the impounding reservoir.
Date: 31 March 2027
(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: 31 March 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 Barcombe Storage, 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. - Confirm completion of the dredging of the impounding reservoir.
Date: 30 April 2029 - Confirm installation of Install cascading aeration system along with a baffled inlet to the impounding reservoir.
Date: 30 April 2029 - Confirm completion of bathometric survey following completion of (b) 1 and 2.
Date: 30 April 2030 - Confirm upgrade of ultrasonics.
Date: 30 April 2027 - Confirm Installation of additional monitoring (phosphate and organics) on the river intake of the impounding reservoir
Date: 30 April 2027 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: 30 April 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: 30 June 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 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
5 January 2024
Reference: SEW-2023-00014