South West Water Limited – Lead

Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended) (“the Act”): Section 19(1)(b)

Reference: BRL-2023-00003

The Drinking Water Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs:

Is satisfied that South West Water Ltd “the Company” in supplying water from the water treatment works listed in Annex A, may be at risk of exceeding the standard for Lead. 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 and meets the requirement set in regulation 4(2)(c) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (“the Regulations”).
Notes that the Company has on 3 August 2023 given a new undertaking under Section 19 (1) (b) of the Act, to take the following steps by the dates shown.

Replacement of 500 consumer supply pipes to the boundary wall of properties within the zones listed in Annex A to this Schedule. Of the minimum total replacement of 500 pipes, 250 (50%) of these replacements should include full replacement of the consumers’ supply pipes to the point of compliance.
Date: 31 March 2025

Reporting:

Provide DWI with reports on progress with carrying out the steps set out in the undertaking. Reports to include at least the following details:
Current state of progress with supply pipe replacement.
Date: Annually for the duration of the Undertaking. Reporting periods are Jan – Dec. Reports to be submitted by 31 January each year that the Undertaking is in place, (except for January 2025)
Provide a final report to the Inspectorate on the lead supply pipe replacement delivered and the conclusions / learnings drawn from the work carried out as part of this Undertaking.
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.
Date: 30 April 2025

The Secretary of State satisfied that South West Water Ltd 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.

Nicholas Adjei
Deputy Chief Inspector, Drinking Water Inspectorate
3 August 2023
Reference: BRL-2023-00003 V1

Undertaking in respect of Lead

Zones supplied from the WTW	Population of zone	Risk Assessment Reference (name of Reg 28 Report or Supply System)	DWI Reference
Z406 – Henbury, Henleaze and Stoke Bishop	62,777	Barrow Treatment Works – blend with Purton	T27
Z407 – Clifton, Horfield, Redland and Kingsdown	73,037	Barrow Treatment Works – blend with Purton	T27
Z408 – Bedminster	44,906	Barrow Treatment Works – blend with Purton	T27
Z410 – Stapleton, St. George and Coombe	33,039	Purton Treatment Works – blend with Barrow	T21
Z411 – Eastville, Easton, Netham and St. Phillips	83,090	Barrow Treatment Works – blend with Purton	T27
Z412 – Kingswood, Fishponds and Mangotsfield	58,081	Purton Treatment Works	T21
Z413 – Longwell Green, Saltford and Keynsham	62,925	Purton Treatment Works	T21
Z414 – Whitchurch, Hengrove, Knowle and Knowle Park	79,410	Purton Treatment Works	T21

Table 1: Annex A Zones in Undertaking