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South West Water Limited – AMP8 Cheddar WTW

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

Reference: BRL-2023-00007

Version Number: 1

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): South West Water Limited, with registered number 02366665 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

  • Cheddar Water Treatment Works (T07)
  • Cheddar Supply System (Y05)

Details of this Notice:

  1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received a set of regulation 28(1) reports of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’) from the Company dated between 21 March 2021 and 02 November 2023, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Cheddar Water Treatment Works (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

No/low flow through the SSFs due to blinding from algae

No Supply

T07Hazard0090

Anaerobic conditions in SSFs due to low flow

Taste and Odour

T07Hazard0062

Negative Langelier index due to reduced alkalinity of water from increased frequencys of algal blooms in source water

Metals

T07Hazard0375

Cheddar WTW UV Biofilm growth

Total Coliforms

T07Hazard0412

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. Continue to operate Cheddar Water Treatment Works (WTW) treatment process to ensure compliance with regulation 26 and regulation 4 of the Regulations.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Maintain monitoring in line with frequencies defined in the Audit strategy.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  3. Statutory sampling as defined in the Regulations.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  4. Maintain alarms and shutdowns associated with the disinfection process and keep under review.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Annual physical clean of the UV reactors at Cheddar WTW.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice until completion of measure (b)1.

(b) To review, revise or make operational the following measures, by the dates specified in each case:

  1. Install and commission a low-pressure UV system to replace the existing medium pressure system at Cheddar WTW.
    Date: 31 March 2028
  2. Install permanent covers on two SSFs at Cheddar WTW.
    Date: 31 March 2029
  3. Install and commission an automated pH correction dosing system at Cheddar WTW.
    Date: 31 March 2029

(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 July 2024
  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 Cheddar Water Treatment Works, 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. Confirm completion of the installation and commissioning of a low-pressure UV system at Cheddar WTW, as described in (b)1. Commissioning must include the following to account for the changes made:
    • An appropriate maintenance regime for any installed processes.
    • Full integration of the new (or modified) processes into the site control and monitoring systems.
    • Updating of the Site-Specific Disinfection Policy and any associated site-specific procedures.
    • Updating of the Site Operating Manual and removal of all out-of-date material from circulation; and
    • Provisions of adequate training for all relevant personnel on the operation, repair and maintenance of the installed (or modified) process and the revised procedures, policies and manual.
      Date: 30 April 2028
  3. Confirm completion of the installation of permanent covers over two SSFs at Cheddar WTW, as described in (b)2.
    Date: 30 April 2029
  4. Confirm completion of the installation and commissioning of pH correction at Cheddar WTW, as described in (b)3. Commissioning must include the following to account for the changes made:
    • An appropriate maintenance regime for any installed processes.
    • Full integration of the new (or modified) processes into the site control and monitoring systems.
    • Updating of the Site-Specific Disinfection Policy and any associated site-specific procedures.
    • Updating of the Site Operating Manual and removal of all out-of-date material from circulation; and
    • Provisions of adequate training for all relevant personnel on the operation, repair and maintenance of the installed (or modified) process and the revised procedures, policies and manual.
      Date: 30 April 2029
  5. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 31 August 2024
  6. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  7. 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
  8. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 30 April 2030

Further Details of this Notice:

  1. Any product or substance used as a result of the requirements in this Notice must comply with regulation 31.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
19 March 2024
Reference: BRL-2023-00007

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