The Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006

Regulations 16 and 26 and 27

SCHEDULE 4 S REQUIREMENTS FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

(1) When undertaking or reviewing and updating a risk assessment for the purposes of regulations 16 and 27, a monitoring local authority shall do so in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule.

(2) A risk assessment shall comprise the following–

(a) documentation on and a description of the private water supply, including the catchment from which the supply draws water;

(b) a hazard assessment and risk characterisation;

(c) an identification of the measures by which risks may be controlled; and

(d) establishment of verification procedures,

and for the purposes of this paragraph, “hazard” means a biological, chemical, physical or radiological agent that has the potential to cause harm or danger to human health; and “risk” means the likelihood of identified hazards causing harm in exposed populations in a specified time, including the magnitude of that harm and/or the consequences of such harm.

(3) In respect of a private water supply which comprises, either alone or in any combination thereof, catchments, surface water or ground water, the risk assessment shall include provision in relation to the relevant matters specified in Table A of this Schedule.

(4) In respect of a private water supply which receives treatment, including treatment at source and at any point thereafter, the risk assessment shall make provision in relation to the relevant matters specified in Table B of this Schedule.

(5) In respect of a private water supply which comprises intermediate tanks and distribution, the risk assessment shall include provision in relation to the relevant matters specified in Table C of this Schedule.

Table A

Hazard Information and Risk Characterisation

(1) Source of private water supply	(2) Information to be considered in the risk assessment
(1) Catchments	(i) geology and hydrology
	(ii) meteorology and weather patterns
	(iii) general catchment and river health
	(iv) wildlife
	(v) competing water uses
	(vi) nature and intensity of development and land use
	(vii) other activities in the catchment that potentially release contaminants into source water
	(viii) planned future activities
(2) Surface water	(i) description of water body type (e.g. river, reservoir, dam)
	(ii) flow and reliability of source water
	(iii) retention times
	(iv) water constituents (physical, chemical, microbial)
	(v) protection (e.g. enclosures, access)
	(vi) recreational and other human activity
	(vii) bulk water transport
(3) Groundwater	(i) confined or unconfined aquifer
	(ii) aquifer hydrogeology
	(iii) flow rate and direction
	(iv) dilution characteristics
	(v) recharge area
	(vi) wellhead protection
	(vii) depth of casing
	(viii) bulk water transport

Table B

Treatment: Hazard Identification and Risk Characterisation

(i) treatment processes

(ii) equipment design

(iii) monitoring equipment and automation

(iv) water treatment chemicals used

(v) treatment efficiencies

(vi) disinfection removals of pathogens

(vii) disinfection residuals/contact time

Table C

Intermediate Tanks and Distribution: Hazard Identification and Risk Characterisation

(i) reservoir/tank design

(ii) retention times

(iii) seasonal variations

(iv) protection (e.g. covers, enclosures, access)

(v) distribution system design

(vi) hydraulic conditions (e.g. water age, pressures, flows)

(vii) backflow protection

(viii) disinfectant residuals