South Staffordshire Water Plc – Kinver WTW Nitrate Removal Scheme
Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)
Reference: SST-2018-00001
Version Number: 3
Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): South Staffordshire Water Plc, with registered number 02662742 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).
Assets Affected:
| Asset Name | Reference |
|---|---|
| Kinver Pumping Station | TKIPW1 |
| Cookley Pumping Station | TCOPW |
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 11 September 2018, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Cookley/Kinver WTW 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Increasing trends and failure of blending regime to be able to maintain nitrate levels below PCV |
Nitrate |
TKIPW1209 TKIPW1210 TKIPW1211 |
- 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:
- Operation of Kinver and Cookley sites to current policy, procedures and to internally agreed process parameters.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Operation and monitoring of the current nitrate blending arrangements for Kinver and Cookley.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Ongoing monitoring of regulatory and enhanced frequency operational sample results and on-line monitoring data.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice - Continue with current and planned catchment management activities for mitigation of risks for nitrate.
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:
- Carry out further investigation into the contribution of nitrate to the boreholes from the River Stour, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and the Roundhill STW discharge and the potential impact of the point sources within the Kinver and Cookley catchments.
Date: Complete - Design a programme, engage with stakeholders, and carry out nitrate reduction measures in the Cookley and Kinver catchments. This should include but not be limited to the measures identified in the Kinver Nitrate Investigation report and the Cookley Nitrate Investigation Summary Reports for arable and livestock farms.
Date: Complete - The company shall provide an overview of its operational strategy for maintaining nitrate below the standard prescribed by the Water Supply (Water Quality) regulations 2016 as amended This must include contingency plans in case the nitrate concentration should increase beyond the current blending measures.
Date: Complete - Carry out further intensive investigations to confirm the technical solution for nitrate removal at Kinver WTW.
Date: Complete - Confirm steps, timetable, programme, completion date and location for installation of Ion Exchange treatment plant (or identified solution).
Date: Complete - Complete the planning, design and procurement arrangements for the installation of an Ion Exchange plant (or identified solution).
Date: 31 March 2024 - Complete the construction, installation and commissioning of an Ion Exchange plant (or identified solution).
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: 30 June 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 Kinver WTW or Cookley WTW, 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. - The company shall provide an overview of its operational strategy for maintaining nitrate below the standard prescribed by the Water Supply (Water Quality) regulations 2016, including review of blending options, review of any treatment, and contingency plans in the event of a sudden increase in nitrate concentrations.
Date: Complete - The company shall provide a catchment management plan for nitrate reduction work in the Kinver and Cookley catchments.
Date: Complete - Provide a report detailing confirmation of the technical solution for nitrate removal and the steps, timetable, programme and location for installation of the chosen treatment process.
Date: Complete - Confirm the completion of the planning, design and procurement arrangements for the installation of an Ion Exchange plant (or identified solution).
Date: 30 April 2024 - Confirm the completion of the construction, installation, and commissioning of an Ion Exchange plant (or identified solution).
Date: 31 May 2025 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: 31 July 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 2026
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
25 April 2024
Reference: SST-2018-00001 v3