Skip to main content
Search

Yorkshire Water Services Limited – AMP8 Ingbirchworth Works Taste, Odour and Algae

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

Reference: YKS-2023-00007

Version Number: 1

Water undertaker as appointed under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended): Yorkshire Water Services Limited, with registered number 02366682 (hereinafter called ‘the Company’).

Assets Affected:

  • Ingbirchworth No. 2 works (T3692910)
  • Barnsley Pennine Supply System (YSAI00130873)
  • Rusby Wood Supply System (YSAI00130871)

Details of this Notice:

  1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (‘the Inspectorate’) has received a set of regulation 28(1) reports of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’) from the Company dated 31 August 2023 and 18 September 2023, which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Ingbirchworth 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

Presence of odour-causing compounds in treated water due to algal growth in the supplying raw water reservoirs

Odour

46705

Presence of taste-causing compounds in treated water due to algal growth in the supplying raw water reservoirs

Taste

41081

Presence of manganese in treated water due to algal growth in supplying raw water reservoirs

Manganese

46662

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. Continuation of ongoing catchment management activity. Engaging with key stakeholders to reduce the risk of deterioration of surface water quality.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  2. Operation of raw water assets to reduce impact on water treatment by balancing inlet flows at Ingbirchworth works.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  3. Operation of water treatment assets to optimise the removal of compounds that cause taste and odour within the design capability of Ingbirchworth works.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  4. Operation of water treatment assets to optimise the reduction of manganese within the design capability of Ingbirchworth works.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice
  5. Monitoring of raw and treated water quality in line with the defined 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 chosen solution and provide an outline design for the proposed solution for addressing the risks of taste, odour and manganese in water supplied from Ingbirchworth works.
    Date: 31 May 2025
  2. Provide a detailed design of the proposed solution that was confirmed in (b)i
    Date: 30 April 2027
  3. Install, commission, and verify through testing, the confirmed solution
    Date: 30 September 2029

(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 January 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 Ingbirchworth works and its associated supply systems, 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. Completion of investigations, pilot trials and development of outline design of chosen solution identified in b(1).
    Date: 30 June 2025
  3. Completion of the detailed design of the proposed solution in b(2).
    Date: 31 May 2027
  4. Completion of installation and commissioning of the chosen solution in b(3).
    Date: 31 October 2029
  5. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 29 February 2024
  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: 31 October 2030

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
13 November 2023
Reference: YKS-2023-00007

Back to top
Print page