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Yorkshire Water Services Limited – AMP8 Multiple Zones Discolouration

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

Reference: YKS-2023-00008

Version Number: 2

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:

  • Water quality zones listed in annex A

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 on various dates (see annex A), which states that there is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from zones listed in annex A (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

Consumer Acceptability (discolouration)

Discolouration

Multiple risk assessment reports (Annex A). For example, Barnsley Grid – Grimethorpe 2019 WSZ H057 107472

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. Operate and maintain the mains network in the named Water Supply Zones in accordance with company policies in order to minimise impact on consumers.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  2. Ensure proactive water quality risk assessments are completed prior to initiating planned and unplanned network operations, in line with company procedures. Manual sample results should support the ongoing activity on a risk assessed basis.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  3. Discolouration risk is reviewed in line with the company’s drinking water safety plan methodology, and ongoing conditioning activities are utilised to mitigate risks to consumers.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  4. Carry out near miss investigations into any instance of more than 12 contacts in 24 hours from consumers regarding discolouration in connected mains systems named in this notice.
    Date: Ongoing for the duration of this Notice.
  5. Monitoring of raw and treated water quality in line with a 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:

Identification of Risk Areas for Phase One

  1. Identify the most at risk water supply zone areas to be addressed under this notice. If appropriate provide a report to justify the replacement of named zones with newly identified risk areas. Define prioritisation of zones in a phased approach.
    Date: 31 January 2025.
  2. Confirm zones to be included in phase one interventions as identified in b(1).
    Date: 31 January 2025.

Resolution of Risks Identified in Phase One

  1. Carry out an investigation into the causes of discolouration risk in the named zones included in b(1) of this notice as confirmed in (b)2. Develop a detailed action plan to ensure elevated risk is reduced in trunk main segment and local area DMAs.
    Date: 31 January 2026.
  2. Following the outputs of (b)3 implement remedial activities to reduce risk of discolouration.
    Date: 30 November 2027.

Confirmation of Risk Areas in Phase Two

  1. Confirm the risk areas to be addressed under Phase 2 of interventions. If appropriate provide a report to justify the replacement of named zones with newly identified risk areas. Define prioritisation of zones in a phased approach.
    Date: 30 April 2027.

Resolution of Risks Identified in Phase Two

  1. Carry out an investigation into the causes of discolouration risk in the named zones included in phase 2 of this notice as confirmed in (b)5. Develop a detailed action plan to ensure elevated risk is reduced in trunk main segment and local area DMAs.
    Date: 31 January 2028.
  2. Following the outputs of (b)5, implement remedial activities to reduce risk of discolouration.
    Date: 30 November 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: 30 April 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 zones listed in annex A, 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 detailing the most at risk water supply zones to be addressed under this notice in b(1). The report shall contain confirmation of the water supply zones to be addressed in Phase 1 of the activity in b(2).
    Date: 28 February 2025.
  3. Provide a report detailing the investigation into the causes of discolouration, and provide the action plan to address the risk of discolouration, as required in measure b(3).
    Date: 28 February 2026.
  4. Provide a report to demonstrate that the outputs of measure b(3) have been implemented, as required by measure b(4).
    Date: 31 January 2028.
  5. Confirmation of the water supply zones to be addressed in Phase 2 of the activity as described in (b)5.
    Date: 31 May 2027.
  6. Provide a report detailing the investigation into the causes of discolouration, as required in measure b(6). The report shall also include a detailed action plan to ensure elevated risk is reduced in trunk main segment and local area DMAs.
    Date: 29 February 2028.
  7. Provide a report to demonstrate that the outputs of measure b(6) have been implemented, as required by measure (b)7.
    Date: 31 January 2030.
  8. Submit the audit strategy for auditing the effectiveness of the measures, as specified in measure (c)1.
    Date: 31 May 2024.
  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 2031.

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 March 2024
Reference: YKS-2023-00008

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