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Wessex Water Services Limited – AMP8 Tucking Mill PFAS

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

Reference: WSX-2024-00006

Version Number: 1

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Wessex Water Services Limited, with registered number 02366648 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

Asset Name

Reference

Midford Catchment

C56054

Tucking Mill Catchment

C56075

Midford Raw Springs

A15300610

Whittakers Springs

A15300836

Tucking Mill Springs

A15301836

Castle Springs

A15302836

Tucking Mill Works

T15100652

Zone 58 Tucking Mill

Y44000058

Zone 59 Hampton Down

Y44000059

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 20 June 2023, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Tucking Mill 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

Inadequate treatment process to prevent PFAS compounds entering supply.

PFAS (H067)

RSKASMT-0000020380 H067 T15100652

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. Regulatory and operational monitoring for PFAS of the raw water (individual spring sources) supplying Tucking Mill works, as well as the final water, as defined in our PFAS strategy document.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  2. Continue catchment investigations to better understand the source(s) of PFAS in the catchment upstream of Tucking Mill works. Review the PFAS risks from the catchment investigations and continue to understand catchment management opportunities and control measures.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  3. Engage with public health teams should concentrations of PFAS increase to concentrations >0.01 ug/l.
    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. Complete the planning, design, and procurement arrangements, to upgrade the existing Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) vessels at Tucking Mill works.
    Date: 31 March 2027.
  2. Complete the upgrade of the existing GAC treatment solution at Tucking Mill works.
    Date: 31 March 2029.
  3. Complete trials of a range of different GAC media, to identify the most effective option for removal of PFAS compounds.
    Date: 31 March 2030.
  4. Complete the commissioning, and make operational, the treatment method chosen in measure (b)3.
    Date: 31 December 2030.

(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 October 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 TUCKING MILL 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. Provide a report to confirm the completion of the planning, design and procurement of the existing GAC vessels, as specified in measure (b)1.
    Date: 30 April 2027
  3. Provide a report to confirm the completion of the upgrade of the GAC treatment solution as specified in measure (b)2.
    Date: 30 April 2029.
  4. Provide a report to confirm the completion and outcomes of the trials of GAC media, as specified in measure (b)3.
    Date: 30 April 2030.
  5. Provide a report to confirm the completion of the commissioning of the chosen treatment solution, as specified in measure (b)4.
    Date: 31 January 2031.
  6. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 30 November 2024.
  7. Submit any revisions of the audit strategy produced under measure (c)2.
    Date: Within 1 month of a revision.
  8. 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.
  9. Submit a satisfactory completion report accompanied by a revised regulation 28(1) report with Board level Director sign-off.
    Date: 31 January 2032.

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
27 August 2024
Reference: WSX-2024-00006 v1

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