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Thames Water Utilities Limited – Epping Forest Water Supply Zone_Network Condition Risks

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

Reference: TMS-2022-00003

Version Number: 2

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Thames Water Utilities Limited, with registered number 02366661 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

  • Epping Forest water supply zone (reference Z0131)
  • High Beech Community Supply System (reference: YTMS1201)

Details of this Notice:

  1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received a set of regulation 28(1) report of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’) from the Company dated 18 September 2019 and 09 September 2021, which state that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from High Beech Community Supply System, Epping Forest water supply zone (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 RiskHazard/ Hazardous Event/ ParameterHazard I D
Risks associated with network condition (likely, mains’ lining), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), taste, odour, iron and turbidity.  Benzo[a]PyreneTMS-6-Z0131-MDCT031-Z0131-D007 TMS-7-Z0131-MDCT031-Z0131-D007
Risks associated with network condition (likely, mains’ lining), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), taste, odour, iron and turbidity.  Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsTMS-7-Z0131-MDCT106-Z0131-B011F TMS-6-Z0131-MDCT106-Z0131-B011F
Risks associated with network condition (likely, mains’ lining), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), taste, odour, iron and turbidity. OdourTMS-6-Z0131-MDCT103-Z0131-A003 TMS-7-Z0131-MDCT103-Z0131-A003
Risks associated with network condition (likely, mains’ lining), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), taste, odour, iron and turbidity. TasteTMS-6-Z0131-MDCT126-Z0131-A004 TMS-7-Z0131-MDCT126-Z0131-A004
Risks associated with network condition (likely, mains’ lining), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), taste, odour, iron and turbidity. IronTMS-6-Z0131-MDCT088-Z0131-A022 TMS-7-Z0131-MDCT088-Z0131-A022
Risks associated with network condition (likely, mains’ lining), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), taste, odour, iron and turbidity. TurbidityTMS-6-Z0131-MDCT142-Z0131-A002 TMS-7-Z0131-MDCT142-Z0131-A002
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. Enhanced sampling (in addition to routine regulatory sampling) for PAHs (including Benzo (a) Pyrene), iron, and turbidity at a minimum frequency of four per month from customer properties across the affected District Metered Area (High Beech DMA 05).
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Regular review of water quality customer contacts from the affected DMA (High Beech 05) to be conducted monthly.
    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. Conduct a desktop investigation of the mains within High Beech DMA 05. This investigation shall include review of sample data, flow and hydraulic data, burst frequency and history, review of customer contacts, and historic information about the main (age, material etc). This information shall be used to identify which mains present a risk to water quality and require further investigation.
    Date: Complete
  2. Where mains have been highlighted as part of measure (b)1. to require further investigation, a mains condition assessment shall be conducted. This shall include more invasive investigations such as couponing or cut out of the main.
    Date: 30 June 2024
  3. Develop a project plan to address the findings of the mains condition assessment.
    Date: 31 December 2024
  4. Complete the project plan developed under measure (b)3.
    Date: TBC

(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 Epping Forest water supply zone, 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. Summarise the outcome of the desktop investigation and provide a date for completion of measure (b)2, (b)3 and (e)3
    Date: Complete
  3. Provide a summary report of the findings, and provide the project plan with timescales for completion to address the findings of measures (b)1 and (b)2. Provide dates for (b)4, (e)4 and (e)8.
    Date: 31 January 2025
  4. Confirm completion of measure (b)3.
    Date: TBC
  5. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: Complete
  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: TBC

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
10 February 2023
Reference: TMS-2022-00003 V2

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