The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2001 (revoked)

Valid from 25/12/2003

PART VI E+W INVESTIGATIONS, AUTHORISATION OF DEPARTURES AND REMEDIAL ACTION

Investigations: Schedule 1 parameters E+W

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), where a water undertaker has reason to believe that water supplied by it for regulation 4(1) purposes—

(a) fails, or is likely to fail, to satisfy a requirement of paragraph (2) of regulation 4; or

(b) is to be regarded as unwholesome by virtue of paragraph (4) of that regulation; or

(c) if paragraph (6) of that regulation were ignored, would be regarded as unwholesome by virtue of paragraph (5) of that regulation,

the water undertaker shall immediately take such steps as are necessary to identify the matters specified in paragraph (2) below.

(2) The matters referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a) the cause and extent of the failure or, as the case may be, the apprehended failure;

(b) the Schedule 1 parameters in respect of which the prescribed concentration or value has not been, or is unlikely to be, achieved; and

(c) in relation to each parameter so identified, whether the failure, or apprehended failure, to achieve the prescribed concentration or value is attributable—

(i) to the domestic distribution system;

(ii) to the maintenance of that system; or

(iii) to neither of those matters.

(3) Where a departure has been authorised under Part VI—

(a) paragraph (1) shall apply only in respect of the Schedule 1 parameters (if any) that are not specified in the authorisation; and

(b) a water undertaker which has reason to believe that water supplied by it for regulation 4(1) purposes fails, or is likely to fail, to satisfy the concentration or value required by the authorisation in relation to any Schedule 1 parameter, shall immediately take such steps as are necessary to identify the matters specified in paragraph (4).

(4) The matters referred to in paragraph (3) are—

(a) the cause and extent of the failure or, as the case may be, the apprehended failure;

(b) the Schedule 1 parameters in respect of which the required concentration or value has not been, or is unlikely to be, achieved; and

(c) in relation to each parameter so identified, whether the failure, or apprehended failure, to achieve that concentration or value is attributable—

(i) to the domestic distribution system;

(ii) to the maintenance of that system; or

(iii) to neither of those matters.

(5) As soon as may be after the matters specified in paragraph (2) or (4), as the case may be, have been identified, the water undertaker shall notify the National Assembly for Wales—

(a) of those matters;

(b) in relation to each parameter identified in accordance with paragraph (2)(b) or (4)(b), whether it is the opinion of the water undertaker that a failure in respect of that parameter is likely to recur; and

(c) of the action (if any) taken by the water undertaker in relation to a failure which is attributable to the domestic distribution system or the maintenance of that system.

(6) Where the water undertaker has identified a failure attributable to the domestic distribution system or to the maintenance of that system, it shall, at the same time as notification is given under paragraph (5)—

(a) by notice in writing to those of its consumers—

(i) to whom it supplies water for regulation 4(1) purposes; and

(ii) who are likely to be affected by the failure,

inform them of the nature of the failure and provide details of the steps (if any) that, in the opinion of the water undertaker, it is necessary or desirable for those consumers to take in the interests of their health; and

(b) send a copy of that notice to the National Assembly for Wales and to each appropriate local authority.

(7) A water undertaker which has complied with the requirements of paragraphs (5) and (6) need not, in respect of the same failure or apprehended failure, comply with the requirements of regulation 35(9).

(8) Where such a failure as is mentioned in paragraph (6) affects the supply of water to the public in premises in which water is so supplied, the water undertaker shall, as soon as may be, notify such persons as the National Assembly for Wales may from time to time determine for the purposes of this paragraph of the matters of which notice is given to consumers in accordance with paragraph (6)(a).

(9) Where such a failure as is mentioned in paragraph (1) relates to the copper or lead parameter, the water undertaker shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence, modify or replace such of its pipes and their associated fittings as it knows or has reason to believe have the potential for contributing to copper or lead in the water supplied to the premises, so as to eliminate that potential (whether or not the presence of copper or lead in those pipes contributed to the failure).

Investigations: indicator parameters E+W

18.—(1) Where a water undertaker has reason to believe that water supplied by it for regulation 4(1) purposes does not meet the specifications for indicator parameters set out in Schedule 2, it shall take such steps as are necessary to identify—

(a) the reason why the specifications are not met;

(b) the indicator parameters in respect of which the specifications are not met; and

(c) if the specification for the coliform bacteria or colony counts parameter (items 4 and 5 in Schedule 2) is not met, whether the inability to meet that specification is attributable—

(i) to the domestic distribution system;

(ii) to the maintenance of that system; or

(iii) to neither of those matters.

(2) As soon as may be after the matters specified in paragraph (1) have been identified, the water undertaker shall notify the National Assembly for Wales—

(a) of those matters; and

(b) in relation to each parameter identified in accordance with paragraph (1)(b), whether it is the opinion of the water undertaker that a recurrence of the inability to meet the specification in respect of that parameter is likely.

(3) Where, in a case to which paragraph (1)(c) applies, the inability to meet the specification has been identified as attributable to the domestic distribution system or to the maintenance of that system, the water undertaker shall, at the same time as notification is given under paragraph (2)—

(a) by notice in writing to those of its consumers—

(i) to whom it supplies water for regulation 4(1) purposes; and

(ii) who are likely to be affected,

inform them of the nature of the problem and provide details of the steps (if any) that, in the opinion of the water undertaker, it is necessary or desirable for those consumers to take in the interests of their health; and

(b) send a copy of that notice to the National Assembly for Wales and to each appropriate local authority.

(4) Where such an inability as is mentioned in paragraph (3) is, in the opinion of the water undertaker, likely to affect the supply of water to the public in premises in which water is so supplied, it shall, at the same time as notice is given under paragraph (2), notify such persons as the National Assembly for Wales may from time to time determine for the purposes of this paragraph of the matters of which notice is given to consumers in accordance with paragraph (3)(a).

Action by National Assembly for Wales E+W

19.—(1) Where—

(a) a notification given in accordance with paragraph (5) of regulation 17 in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (1) of that regulation (including that paragraph as read with paragraph (3)(a) of that regulation) discloses—

(i) a failure in respect of a parameter specified in Part II of Table A or in Table B in Schedule 1; and

(ii) that the failure is not attributable to the domestic distribution system or the maintenance of that system; and

(b) it appears to the National Assembly for Wales that the failure is not trivial and is likely to recur,

the National Assembly for Wales may, by notice in writing to the water undertaker, require the water undertaker to seek a departure in accordance with regulation 20.

(2) The exercise by the National Assembly for Wales of the power conferred by paragraph (1) shall not preclude the exercise by it, in relation to the same circumstances, of the power conferred by section 18 of the Act.

(3) Where—

(a) a notification given in accordance with paragraph (5) of regulation 17 in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (3)(b) of that regulation discloses—

(i) a failure in relation to any parameter specified in Part II of Table A or in Table B in Schedule 1; and

(ii) that the failure is not attributable to the domestic distribution system or the maintenance of that system; and

(b) it appears to the National Assembly for Wales that the failure in respect of that parameter is not trivial and is likely to recur,

the National Assembly for Wales shall consider whether the terms of the authorisation under regulation 20 should be modified.

(4) Where—

(a) a notification given in accordance with regulation 18(2) discloses an inability to meet the specification applicable to an indicator parameter; and

(b) the National Assembly for Wales considers that the inability poses a risk to human health;

the National Assembly for Wales may, by notice in writing to the water undertaker, require the water undertaker to take such steps as may be determined by the National Assembly for Wales and specified in the notice.

(5) It shall be the duty of a water undertaker to which a notice under paragraph (4) has been given to take the steps specified in the notice.

Authorisation of temporary supply of water that is not wholesome E+W

20.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the National Assembly for Wales may, upon the written application of a water undertaker, authorise in accordance with regulation 21 a departure from the provisions of Part III of these Regulations in so far as they relate to—

(a) a parameter specified in Part II of Table A or in Table B in Schedule 1; and

(b) the supply of water by that undertaker in any of its water supply zones.

(2) The National Assembly for Wales shall not authorise a departure under paragraph (1) unless it is satisfied—

(a) that the authorisation is necessary to maintain in that zone a supply of water for regulation 4(1) purposes;

(b) that a supply of water for those purposes cannot be maintained in that zone by any other reasonable means; and

(c) that the supply of water in accordance with the authorisation does not constitute a potential danger to human health.

(3) A water undertaker shall provide with its application—

(a) a statement—

(i) of the grounds on which the authorisation is sought;

(ii) of the water supply zone in respect of which the authorisation is sought;

(iii) of the parameters in respect of which the prescribed concentration or value cannot be met;

(iv) in respect of each parameter to which paragraph (iii) applies, of the results of the analysis of the samples taken in the water supply zone in question during the 12 months immediately preceding the first day on which the prescribed concentration or value could not be met;

(v) in respect of each parameter to which paragraph (iii) applies, of the results of the analysis of the samples (if any) taken in the water supply zone in question between the first day on which the prescribed concentration or value could not be met and the date of the application;

(vi) of the average daily quantity of water supplied to that zone or, if that quantity cannot readily be ascertained, of the average daily quantity of water supplied from the treatment works that supplies water to that zone;

(vii) of the estimated population of that zone;

(viii) as to whether, if a departure were authorised in the terms sought, any relevant food-production undertaking would be affected;

(ix) of the period for which the authorisation is sought; and

(x) of the reasons why the supply cannot be maintained by other reasonable means;

(b) a scheme for monitoring the quality of water supplied in the zone during the period for which the authorisation is sought; and

(c) a summary of the steps that it proposes to take in order to secure that the supply fully satisfies the requirements of Part III, including—

(i) a timetable for the work;

(ii) an estimate of the cost of the work; and

(iii) provisions for reviewing the progress of the work and for reporting the result of the review to the National Assembly for Wales.

(4) At the same time as it makes an application for an authorisation under paragraph (1), the water undertaker shall serve on—

(a) every appropriate local authority;

(b) every appropriate health authority; and

(c) the relevant customer services committee,

a copy of the application and of the statement, scheme and summary referred to in paragraph (3).

(5) A body on whom documents have been served in accordance with paragraph (4) may make representations to the National Assembly for Wales in connection with the application; and any such representations shall be made not later than the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the application for the authorisation is made.

Authorisations: terms and conditions E+W

21.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a departure may be authorised under regulation 20 for such period as is in the National Assembly for Wales’s opinion reasonably required for securing a supply of water for regulation 4(1) purposes that fully satisfies the requirements of Part III (“the departure period”).

(2) No departure period may exceed three years.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), an authorisation under regulation 20—

(a) shall specify—

(i) the grounds on which it is granted;

(ii) every water supply zone in respect of which it is granted;

(iii) the extent to which a departure from the prescribed concentration or value of any parameter is authorised;

(iv) in respect of each parameter to which paragraph (iii) applies, the results of the analysis of the samples taken in each water supply zone in question during the 12 months immediately preceding the first day on which the prescribed concentration or value could not be met;

(v) in respect of each parameter to which paragraph (iii) applies, the results of the analysis of the samples (if any) taken in each water supply zone in question between the first day on which the prescribed concentration or value could not be met and the date of the application;

(vi) the average daily quantity of water supplied from each of those zones or, if that quantity cannot readily be ascertained, the average daily quantity of water supplied from the treatment works that supplies water to that zone;

(vii) the estimated population of each of those zones;

(viii) whether or not any relevant food-production undertaking would be affected; and

(ix) the departure period; and

(b) shall require the implementation of a scheme for monitoring the quality of water supplied in each of those zones during the departure period (which may be, but need not be, the scheme submitted in accordance with regulation 20(3)(b)); and

(c) shall require the carrying out of the steps which, in its opinion, are reasonably required in order to secure that the supply fully satisfies the requirements of Part III (whether or not the steps are those proposed in the summary submitted in accordance with regulation 20(3)(c)); and

(d) shall specify, in relation to those steps—

(i) the timetable for the work;

(ii) an estimate of the cost of the work; and

(iii) provisions for reviewing the progress of the work and for reporting to it the result of the review; and

(e) shall require the taking of such steps as may be specified to give to the population within the water supply zones to which the authorisation applies and, in particular, to those groups of that population for which the supply of water in accordance with the authorisation could present a special risk, advice as to the measures (if any) that it would be advisable in the interests of their health for persons within that population or those groups to take for the whole or any part of the departure period.

(4) Where the National Assembly for Wales is of the opinion—

(a) that the extent of the contravention of the requirements of Part III as respects any parameter is trivial; and

(b) that the prescribed concentration or value as respects that parameter is likely to be achieved within the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the prescribed concentration or value in respect of that parameter was contravened,

the particulars to be specified in the authorisation shall be those required by paragraph (3)(a)(iii) and (ix), and sub-paragraphs (b) to (e) of that paragraph shall not apply.

(5) Where it appears to the National Assembly for Wales that a supply of water that fully satisfies the requirements of Part III cannot be restored by the end of the departure period, it may authorise a further departure.

(6) Paragraphs (1) to (4) shall apply to a further departure as they apply to a departure authorised under regulation 20.

(7) Where it appears to the National Assembly for Wales that a supply of water that fully satisfies the requirements of Part III cannot be restored by the end of the departure period relevant to an authorisation under paragraph (5), it may, in accordance with Article 9(2) of Council Directive 98/83/EEC, authorise a third departure.

(8) Paragraph (3) shall apply to a departure authorised under paragraph (7) as it applies to a departure authorised under regulation 20, but with the substitution for the words “Subject to paragraph (4)” of the words “ Subject to any direction of the Commission ”.

Authorisations: other limitations E+W

22.  An authorisation under regulation 20 or regulation 21 may be limited to water supplied—

(a) from particular sources or classes of source;

(b) to particular water supply zones or to zones of particular descriptions.

Publicity for authorisations E+W

23.  As soon as reasonably practicable after a departure has been authorised, the water undertaker shall—

(a) publish in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the water supply zone to which the authorisation relates is situated—

(i) except in a case to which paragraph (4) of regulation 21 applies, a notice containing a statement of the matters specified in paragraph (3)(a)(ii), (iii), (viii) and (ix) of that regulation;

(ii) in a case to which paragraph (4) of regulation 21 applies, and if the National Assembly for Wales so requires, a notice containing a statement of the matters specified in paragraph (3)(a)(ii), (iii) and (ix) of that regulation;

(b) give such other public notice of the authorisation and of its terms and conditions as the National Assembly for Wales may, by notice in writing to the undertaker, reasonably require.

Revocation and modification of authorisations E+W

24.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the National Assembly for Wales may at any time modify or revoke an authorisation under regulation 20.

(2) The National Assembly for Wales shall not revoke or modify an authorisation under regulation 20 without giving at least six months’ notice in writing of its intention to do so to—

(a) the water undertaker to which the authorisation relates;

(b) the appropriate local authority;

(c) the appropriate health authority; and

(d) the relevant customer services committee,

but it may revoke or modify an authorisation without notice if it appears to it that immediate revocation or modification is required in the interests of public health.

(3) A water undertaker on whose application a departure has been authorised under this Part shall notify the National Assembly for Wales as soon as the circumstances which gave rise to the application cease to exist; and the National Assembly for Wales shall thereupon revoke the authorisation without the need for prior notice.