Enforcement Order – Section 18 of the Water Industry Act 1991
Southern Water Services Limited
Reference: SRN-2024-00013
Version Number: 1
Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991: Southern Water Services Limited, with registered number 02366670 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).
Details of this Order:
- The Company has failed to carry out the steps identified in the regulation 28(4) notice served on it.
- The Company was notified on 8 July 2024 about the Inspectorate’s intention to make an enforcement order under section 18 of the Act in respect of contraventions of regulation 28(4)(b) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (‘the Regulations’).
- The Inspectorate has considered any representations or objections to the proposed order, which were duly made and not withdrawn.
- The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water makes this enforcement order under section 18(1) of the Act for the purposes of securing compliance with requirements imposed under regulation 28(4) of the Regulations.
Requirements:
- The Company is hereby required to complete the steps and reporting outlined in the attached Schedule of Works with effect from the day after this order is made.
Signed
Marcus Rink
Chief Inspector of Drinking Water on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
14 August 2024
Reference: SRN-2024-00013
Schedule of Works
Southern Water Services Limited
Date: 14 August 2024
Reference: SRN-2024-00013
Version Number: 1
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’
Water Treatment Works and Connected Supply System
- RH053 Yew Hill WSR
- RH051 West Hill Winchester WSR
- Y001 Hampshire North
- Y002 Hampshire South
- Y011 Winchester
- Y013 Southampton East
Steps to be taken
The Company is required to implement the following steps by the date given in each case.
Steps to be maintained for the duration of the order
- Operation of Yew Hill WSR and West Hill Winchester WSR in accordance with Company policy, procedures and to internally agreed process parameters.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order. - Ongoing monitoring of regulatory and operational sample results and online data.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order. - Enhanced large volume sampling and enhanced data assessment at frequency set out in audit strategy.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order. - Weekly site security and inspection visits.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order. - Quarterly visits to complete Water Supply Checklist Inspection.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order. - Monitor and track trends for customer contacts in downstream water supply zones.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order. - Investigate any reports of illness contacts in downstream water supply zones.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order. - Carry out Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys at frequency set out in the audit strategy.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order. - Enhanced sampling using the Cryptosporidium rig on the Yew Hill WSR outlet as set out in audit strategy.
Date: From the day after the final enforcement order is made and thereafter, ongoing for the duration of the order
Steps to review, revise or make operational
- Complete works to ensure Yew Hill WSR 1 is structurally sound, to enable its return to service.
Date: Complete - Complete site and pump surveys at Romsey Road WBS.
Date: Complete - Confirm the contingency plan to remove Yew Hill WSR from supply in the event of an emergency. Plan to include definition of emergency.
Date: Complete - Complete the installation of a new loose lay membrane at Yew Hill WSR 2.
Date: Complete - Produce an outline design for the scope of temporary works required to enable Romsey Road WBS to support supplies whilst Yew Hill WSR 2 is out of service.
Date: Complete - Complete temporary works to enable Romsey Road WBS to supply areas fed by Yew Hill WSR.
Date: Complete - Confirm environmental surveys at Yew Hill WSR have been completed and whether work can commence to undertake enabling works to bring Yew Hill WSR 1 into supply and remove Yew Hill WSR 2 out of supply.
Date: Complete - Complete enabling works and removal of Yew Hill WSR 2 from supply.
Date: 31 January 2026 - Undertake the internal inspection and flood test of Yew Hill WSR 2.
Date: 30 April 2026 - Plan, undertake and complete enabling works to remove West Hill Winchester WSR from supply for inspection and flood testing.
Date: 31 October 2025 - Complete the inspection and flood testing of the first chosen cell at West Hill Winchester WSR.
Date: 30 November 2025 - Complete the inspection and flood testing of the remaining cell at West Hill Winchester WSR.
Date: 28 February 2026
Steps to audit the effectiveness of steps completed.
- Define an audit strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the steps specified above.
Date: 31 October 2024 - Implement, and keep under continuous review, the audit strategy defined in step 22.
Date: Following completion of step 22 onwards.
Reporting
Provide the Inspectorate with the following reports as specified.
- Provide a progress report annually.
Date: by 31 January each year. - Report to evidence completed enabling works and removal of Yew Hill WSR 2 from supply.
Date: 28 February 2026 - Report to evidence completed internal inspection and flood test of Yew Hill WSR 2.
Date: 31 May 2026 - Report to evidence completed enabling works to remove West Hill Winchester WSR from supply for inspection and flood testing.
Date: 30 November 2025 - Report to evidence the inspection and flood testing of the first chosen cell at West Hill Winchester WSR.
Date: 31 December 2025 - Report to evidence the inspection and flood testing of the remaining cell at West Hill Winchester WSR.
Date: 31 March 2026 - Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in step 10.
Date: 30 November 2024 - Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under step 7.
Date: Within 1 month of a revision. - Delay or change report. If the Company has any reason to believe it may not be able to meet any of the dates set out in this Schedule of Works, it must notify the Inspectorate as soon as reasonably practicable after being made aware and in any case, within one month.
Date: as soon as reasonably practicable after being made aware and in any case, within one month; ongoing for the duration of the order. - Submit a report in the event that any completed steps of this Order need to be altered in any way, for any reason.
Date: As soon as reasonably practicable after being made aware and in any case, within one month; ongoing for the duration of the order - Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
Date: 31 March 2027