Private Water Supplies

New Private Water Supply Regulations are now in force.  These change the way we deal with private water supplies. Find out more below.

Pendle Council's Environmental Health Service monitors the quality of water from all premises in Pendle which have a private water supply.  This is water that comes from a spring, borehole, well or reservoir.

The new Regulations ensure that private water supplies meet the same standards as mains supply water.  The main changes are as follows:

• Commercial and larger domestic supplies - a full risk assessment must be carried out within 5 years; sampling and analysis  must be done twice a year
• Smaller domestic supplies - a full risk assessment and sampling and analysis  must be carried out within 5 years and every 5 years thereafter
• Supplies serving a single domestic dwelling - risk assessment and sampling as smaller domestic supplies if the Council chooses to, or at the request of the householder
• Private Distribution Systems - park homes sites, holiday campsites, etc.  A risk assessment must be carried out and a sampling programme devised based on the results

More information is available on the Drinking Water Inspectorate's (DWI's) website and on the Private Water Supplies UK website (the latter one gives regional information for Scotland only, but the guidance applies to the whole of the UK).

What is a risk assessment?

We look at the whole supply system from catchment (borehole, spring, watercourse, lake) to tap. We identify any risks to the quality of the water from, amongst other things, livestock, wildlife, agriculture, neighbouring sewage treatment plant, the surrounding land, state of storage tanks, pipework and any current treatment.

What legal powers do we have?

If a water supply fails a quality test, we will discuss how to improve it with the responsible person. If necessary, we will serve legal notices that require the person responsible to improve the quality of the water supply.

Fees

Because of the extra work invloved, we have to charge for the new water monitoring services. You can download a copy of the fees.

For more information please contact Environmental Health Services on 01282 661199 or email environmental.health@pendle.gov.uk