Water Sampling - Private Supplies

Private Water Supplies

A number of properties in the Borough use private water supplies, i.e. a water supply which is not provided by Three Valleys Water.  Most of these supplies are situated in rural parts of the borough, and the source of the supply is generally a well or a borehole, although spring water supplies are not uncommon.

We all know that good quality water is very important for everyday life, and every house must have a good supply of clean, fresh water for it to be fit for occupation. But did you know that water is at risk of being contaminated from everything that it comes into contact with and may become contaminated with bacteria, parasites, viruses, or other substances.

Many of these contaminants are harmless, but some may cause serious illness (particularly to the young and the elderly) and it is not always possible to tell whether or not your private water supply is safe to drink, as contamination may not be obvious through taste, smell or colour of the water.  Unlike the water supply provided by Three Valleys Water, most private supplies are not treated to remove contamination and can therefore pose a risk to those who consume it.

Legislation requires that the water quality of private water supplies meets the same high standards as those imposed on all public water companies.  It is therefore extremely important that if you have not already registered your private water supply with the Council that you contact us for advice, similarly if you are considering installing a private water supply please contact us in the first instance.

The Legal Requirements

To make sure that water used in the home and for producing food is of the high quality required to protect public health, the government has set legal quality standards which all water used for drinking, washing and cooking or used in businesses which produce food or drink must meet.

Under the provisions of Section 77(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991, the council has a general duty to monitor the wholesomeness and sufficiency of private water supplies within the Borough and we therefore regularly test the water quality of all known private supplies.  Every private water supply has to be individually classified in accordance with the requirements set in the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991. 

Factors such as volume of water used, type of premises i.e. commercial/residential, number of people who consume the water are taken into consideration. This then forms the basis of the classification which in turn establishes how often a private supply is tested to ensure that the quality of the water falls within the parameters set in the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991. 

Generally speaking, the more people who use the supply the more often and the more detailed the tests have to be, private supplies used for producing food generally have to be tested more frequently and strictly than domestic supplies.

If you are unsure that your private water supply meets the required standard we can provide advice on the frequency and type of sampling that is required to monitor your private water supply for signs of contamination and to ensure that it is wholesome.  We can provide advice on how to protect your private water supply from the different sources of contamination and the types of treatment available for protecting your private water supply.

What you must do (new supplies)

Before bringing a redundant private water supply back into use or bringing a supply into use for the very first time we strongly recommend that you:

•  Contact us to register the private supply. We can investigate the cause (if any) as to why the supply became redundant in the first instance and as with new private supplies evaluate your potential water catchment area for any risks.
  
•  Before the private supply is used for the first time, contact us so that samples can be taken for analysis to ensure that the water meets the required standards for consumption.
  
• You should also check with the Environment Agency to establish whether you need a licence to abstract water.
  
• If you already have a water supply provided by Three Valleys Water you should contact them to avoid any accidental misconnections to their supply or so that they can ensure that their supply is fully protected.

What you must do (unregistered supplies)

If you are abstracting water from the ground for whatever purpose and you have not registered your private water supply with the Council then please get in touch. Not all private water supplies need to be registered with the Council for example, those used for irrigation purposes only but simply knowing that they exist is important for our records.  It can also be important to you as we will be able to inform you as to any contamination events that we are notified of which may pose a threat to your private supply.

If your property was once served by Three Valleys Water or you are running a dual system i.e. both private & public supply you should contact them so that they can ensure that their supply is fully protected.

What are the charges for this service?

The Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991 allow the Council to recover some of the costs of the sampling and analysis of the water. The cost depends on the class and category sampled and we can advise you of the cost prior to any sample being taken.

General Information

It is worth remembering that if you are using a private water supply without any sufficient treatment then you are exposing yourself and those that come into contact with it to the potential risk of illness. Without adequate filtration, treatment, monitoring etc there are no guarantees that the water you are using is wholesome and fit for purpose.  If you are responsible for a private supply you have a duty of care to ensure that it is fit for purpose and that is where we can help you.

If you are unfamiliar with your private water supply, you should:

• Establish who is responsible for the supply, its upkeep and maintenance? 
   
• Where is the source of supply? 
  
•  Where does the supply enter your property?
  
• Is there a storage tank in your loft?
  
• Is the water treated in any way?
  
• Is the treatment equipment in good order and maintained regularly?

To ensure that your supply safe, you should:

• Inspect all parts of your supply for damage and defects.
  
• Check that any well or borehole is adequately protected to prevent surface water contamination, particularly during periods of heavy rain.
  
• Ensure that there is no pollution of your supply from overflowing cesspools or run-off from farmland.
  
• Check that nearby farmers are aware of the drinking water supply and the need to avoid contamination from farming activities.
  
• Check storage tanks.
  
• Ensure that tanks are watertight and have vermin proof lids and walls.
  
• Overflow pipes and vents should be designed to stop birds and rodents from entering.
  
• If you supply water to others, you have a duty of care for the safety of water you supply. 
  
•  If you think that the water is unsafe you should advise boiling of all water for drinking or food preparation.

If you have any doubts about your private water supply or you wish to register with us the please do not delay and get in touch with the Environmental Health Department for advice and guidance, if your enquiry relates to a mains water supply then please contact Three Valleys Water in the first instance.

Useful links:

The Drinking Water Inspectorate
DWI - Information Leaflets - Private Water Supplies
The purpose of this document is to alert the owners and users of private water supplies to the risks of contamination of their water.