Southern Water Services Limited – Vining Lodsworth and Knightsfield Midhurst HL WSR

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

Reference: SRN-2022-00014

Version Number: 2

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Southern Water Services Limited, with registered number 02366670 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

Asset Name

Reference

Vining Lodsworth WSR

RS030

Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR

RS015

Sussex North Supply System

Y008

Table 1: List of assets affected and associated reference numbers

Details of this Notice:

  1. 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 9 August 2022, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Vining Lodsworth WSR and Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR (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

Microbiological contamination due to ingress

Total Coliforms

46641, 46145

Microbiological contamination due to ingress

E. coli

46642, 46146

Structural integrity of asset at risk

No Supply

46699, 46203

Table 2: 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. Operation of Vining Lodsworth WSR and Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR in accordance with Company policy, procedures and to internally agreed process parameters.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  2. Ongoing monitoring of regulatory and operational sample results and online data.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  3. Enhanced large volume sampling and enhanced data assessment at frequency set out in audit strategy.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  4. Weekly site security and inspection visits.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  5. Quarterly visits to complete Water Supply Checklist Inspection.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  6. Monitor and track trends for customer contacts in downstream water supply zones.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  7. Investigate any reports of illness contacts in downstream water supply zones.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  8. Carry out Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys at frequency set out in audit strategy.
    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:

  1. Confirm the contingency plan to remove Vining Lodsworth WSR from supply in the event of an emergency.
    Date: Complete
  2. Confirm the contingency plan to remove Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR from supply in the event of an emergency.
    Date: Complete
  3. Complete detailed design of enabling works to remove Vining Lodsworth WSR and Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR to be removed from supply for a clean and inspection.
    Date: 31 July 2024
  4. Confirm environmental surveys within site boundary at Vining Lodsworth WSR and Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR have been completed and whether work can commence to undertake enabling works.
    Date: 31 October 2023
  5. Complete enabling works to remove Vining Lodsworth WSR and Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR from supply for a clean and inspection.
    Date: 28 February 2027
  6. Undertake the internal inspection and flood test of Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR.
    Date: 31 May 2027
  7. Undertake the internal inspection and flood test of Vining Lodsworth WSR.
    Date: 30 November 2027

(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: Complete
  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 Vining Lodsworth WSR or Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR, 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. Submit details on the contingency plans to remove Vining Lodsworth WSR and Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR from supply in the event of an emergency.
    Date: Complete
  3. Submit detailed design of enabling works to remove Vining Lodsworth WSR and Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR from supply for a clean and inspection.
    Date: 31 August 2024
  4. Submit evidence environmental surveys have been completed and confirm work can commence to undertake enabling works.
    Date: 30 November 2023
  5. Submit evidence that the enabling works to remove Vining Lodsworth WSR and Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR from supply have been completed.
    Date: 31 March 2027
  6. Provide a report confirming the findings of the internal inspection of Knightsfield Midhurst High Level WSR.
    Date: 31 July 2027
  7. Provide a report confirming the findings of the internal inspection of Vining Lodsworth WSR.
    Date: 31 January 2028
  8. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: Complete
  9. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision
  10. 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.
  11. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 31 January 2029

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
8 November 2023
Reference: SRN-2022-00014 v2

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