South West Water Limited – AMP8 Lowermoor WTW Taste and Odour
Notice under regulation 28(4) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)
Reference: SWB-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:
- Lowermoor WTW T2318F
- Lowermoor Supply System: Y2318
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 January 2024, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Lowermoor Water Treatment Works (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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Customer acceptability – taste/odour |
Geosmin (F050) |
13450 |
|
Customer acceptability – taste/odour |
2 Methly Iso Borneol (F051) |
13449 |
|
Customer acceptability – taste/odour |
Taste (A004) |
13434 |
|
Customer acceptability – taste/odour |
Odour (A003) |
13445 |
- 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:
- Continue to operate Lowermoor Water Treatment Works (WTW) treatment process to ensure compliance with regulation 4 of the Regulations.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice. - Maintain monitoring in line with frequencies defined in the audit strategy.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice. - Maintain statutory sampling as defined in the Regulations.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice. - Optimisation of the existing mitigation measures within the operational limits of the process which have an impact on geosmin and/or 2-MIB concentrations in the final water.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice. - Continue water quality monitoring in the water supply zones supplied by Lowermoor works.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice. - Respond to any consumer contact, relating to earthy/musty, taste and/or odour, in line with company procedures.
Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice. - Inform on-going raw water risk assessment by enhanced monitoring.
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:
- Plan and develop the outline design of the chosen solution to reduce final water geosmin and 2-MIB concentrations including the programme of work.
Date: 31 March 2028 - Develop the detailed design of the chosen solution and commence construction.
Date: 31 March 2029 - Complete the construction, installation and commissioning of the solution.
Date: 31 March 2030
(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 August 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 Lowermoor Water Treatment Works , 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. - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
Date: 30 September 2024 - Provide a report confirming the outline design of the chosen solution and the programme of works.
Date: 30 April 2028 - Provide a report confirming the detailed design of chosen solution.
Date: 30 April 2029 - Provide a detailed report confirming completion of construction, installation and commissioning of the chosen solution. 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 2030
- 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 April 2031
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
14 March 2024
Reference: SWB-2023-00007