A private water supply is any supply which is not provided by a mains water company, such as Yorkshire Water. The water may come from a spring, a well, a bore-hole or a stream.
Every home should have a supply of good clean water to be fit for people to live in.
What are the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009?
The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 apply to water intended for human consumption and state the requirements on the authorities, and subsequently the owner of the supply, in regard to ensuring that the water is considered ‘Wholesome’. A copy of the full regulations can be found here.
The regulations have recently changed, with the changes coming into force on the 1st of January 2010.
What are the changes that have come into force on the 1st of January 2010?
The Private Water Supplies Regulations now require the Local Environmental Health Department of the council to carry out a risk assessment of every site within their boundary which is using a private water supply.
Following assessment, the sites will be categorised and the sampling and analysis regime will be determined. Post sampling the water will either be deemed ‘Wholesome’ (the water passes against the relevant standards) or ‘Unwholesome’ (the water does not pass against certain standards). If the water is considered ‘unwholesome’ the supply may be investigated to establish a cause and the owner of the private water supply may be served ‘notice’ to correct the failure(s) / address the cause.
The changes to the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009, now mean that the notice must be adhered to or penalties, including a custodial sentence, may apply.
What do I do if my water is deemed ‘unwholesome’ and I am requested to resolve the failure, served a notice?
First of all don’t panic!
Secondly, contact us. We are always happy to discuss your site as well as talking to Environmental Health Departments on client’s behalf. We can assist in establishing causes, and specifying and installing equipment to deal with problems at source, or specifying and installing water treatment equipment to correct the failure.
