The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014

Risk assessment of each treatment works and its connected supply system S

30.—(1) This regulation applies to each treatment works and its connected supply system from which water is supplied, or is to be supplied, by Scottish Water for human consumption purposes.

(2) Scottish Water must assess each treatment works and its connected supply system (“the combined system”) so as to establish whether or not there is a significant risk of supplying unwholesome water from the combined system (or any part of it).

[F1 (2A) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (2), each assessment carried out pursuant to that paragraph must—

(a) seek to establish whether—

(i) the measures in place to control risks to human health throughout the water supply chain from the catchment area through abstraction, treatment and storage to distribution are working effectively; and

(ii) water at each point of compliance meets the water quality standards;

(b) assess available information on the quality of water supplied to establish whether—

(i) the water quality standards are being met; and

(ii) the prescribed concentration and value for each parameter in Table C is not being exceeded at the point of monitoring for the parameter; and

(c) identify the most appropriate means of mitigating any risk to human health.

(2B) The assessment—

(a) must be carried out in accordance with a method which is approved by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland;

(b) must be based on the general principles of risk assessment set out in relation to international standards including European standard EN 15975-2:2013 entitled “Security of drinking water supply - Guidelines for risk and crisis management - Part 2: Risk management”; and

(c) must take into account the results of monitoring carried out—

(i) under these Regulations; and

(ii) under section 8 (monitoring) of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 in respect of bodies of water identified under section 6 of that Act (bodies of water used for the abstraction of drinking water).]

(3) Each risk assessment must be recorded in writing (or in electronic form) and include—

(a) a description of the methods used to prepare it;

(b) where the assessment establishes that there is no significant risk of supplying unwholesome water from the combined system (or any part of it), a statement confirming this; and

(c) where it establishes that measures have been taken to remove a significant risk of supplying unwholesome water from the combined system (or any part of it)—

(i) monitoring data which verifies this; and

(ii) details of those measures.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), each risk assessment must be completed (and recorded) before 1st October [F2 2018].

(5) If the combined system (or part of it) is not in use on [F3 27th October 2017], the risk assessment must be completed (and recorded) before the combined system or, as the case may be, that part of it) is used by Scottish Water to supply water for human consumption purposes.

[F4 (6) Subject to paragraph (6A), Scottish Water must review and, where necessary, update each risk assessment at least every 5 years (or earlier if it considers that the existing risk assessment is inadequate for any reason).]

[F5 (6A) Scottish Water must review and, where necessary, update the risk assessment as soon as possible in the event that it becomes aware of any—

(a) deterioration of the quality of the water;

(b) increase in the pollution of a body of water or other source used for the abstraction of the water; or

(c) modification to, or extension of, the combined system from which the water is supplied,

which is relevant for the protection of human health and was not previously taken into account.]

(7) The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland may, by notice given to Scottish Water, require it to complete (and record) a risk assessment or, as the case may be, a review by a date specified in the notice.

(8) Where Scottish Water becomes aware of any factors which make it likely that a risk assessment or a review will establish that there is a significant risk of supplying unwholesome water, it must inform the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland specifying the relevant factors and the measures it is taking or intends to take to mitigate the risk.

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 30(2A)(2B) inserted (27.10.2017) by The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/281), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(a)

F2 Word in reg. 30(4) substituted (27.10.2017) by The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/281), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(b)

F3 Words in reg. 30(5) substituted (27.10.2017) by The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/281), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(c)

F4 Reg. 30(6) substituted (27.10.2017) by The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/281), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(d)

F5 Reg. 30(6A) inserted (27.10.2017) by The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/281), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(e)