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Private water supplies
What is a private water supply?
Private distribution systems
Our duties regarding private water supplies
Risk assessment
Sampling
When a supply does not meet the legal standards for water quality?
Our charges
Sources of further information
What is a private water supply?
In general terms a 'private water supply' is any water supply which is not provided by a water company. The water may come from a spring, well, borehole, pond, river or stream. Some private distribution systems can also be classed as private water supplies.
Private distribution systems
Water supplied from a water company's mains supply, but delivered to a secondary building or buildings by a private distribution network may also be classed as a private water supply. In general, such distribution systems may be classed as private water supplies where a lease or tenancy agreement does not include an inherent charge upon the tenant as a cost recovery arrangement for the water company.
Our duties regarding private water supplies
Runnymede Borough Council has a duty to assess and periodically monitor the wholesomeness of private water supplies to public buildings, commercial businesses or where the private supply serves more than one residential property.
We must also assess and monitor the wholesomeness of private water supplies to residential properties that have their own individual private water supply, but only if the owner or occupier of the dwelling requests that we do so.
Where we suspect that a private water supply is unwholesome or tests show that the water does not meet certain specified quality requirements, we will carry out further investigations.
We charge for providing these services. Details of our current charges are set out at the bottom of this web page.
We also have a duty to keep records of the locations of private water supplies.
Risk assessment
We carry out risk assessments to determine whether and under what circumstances unsatisfactory water is likely to be supplied. The risk assessment identifies what Improvements might be required. It also helps identify the frequency and type of sampling which should be carried out.
Sampling
We check and monitor the wholesomeness of water by carrying out sampling in accordance with the Regulations and the results of the risk assessment. Both bacteriological and chemical parameters are tested to monitor if the supply complies with standards laid out in the regulations.
The charges associated with sampling, risk assessments and any investigations are set in accordance with the regulations. Further information on the fee and charges are set out below.
When a supply does not meet the legal standards for water quality?
In the first instance, we will advise that the supply constitutes a potential danger to human health. We will also give advice on various steps that can be taken to:
• minimise any immediate potential danger and
• ensure the water meets statutory standards for drinking water.
However, where no action is taken to improve the water supply we will normally serve a formal notice requiring the duty holder to improve the quality of the water supply.
Our scale of charges
|
Activity |
Charges we will levy |
Maximum charge we will levy |
Comments |
|
Risk assessment |
£60 per hour* |
£500 |
Minimum charge of £50. |
|
Sampling |
£100 |
|
We will not charge where a sample is taken and analysed solely to confirm or clarify the results of the analysis of a previous sample. |
|
Investigation |
£60 per hour* |
£100 |
This is for work carried out to identify why a water sample failed to meet the required standards and for granting any permission to breach a standard temporarily whilst remedial work is carried out. |
|
Check monitoring of supplies to single domestic premises or any other non-commercial or non-public buildings consuming less than 10 cubic metres of water per day |
£25 |
|
|
|
Check monitoring of supplies to all commercial and public buildings and any premises using more than 10 cubic metres of water per day. |
£50 per sample + £60 per hour* |
£100 |
Check monitoring is carried out to ensure that water complies with the basic standards. |
|
Audit monitoring of supplies to all commercial and public buildings and any premises using more than 103 metres of water per day |
£250 analysis fee** plus |
£500 |
Audit monitoring involves analysis for a number of chemicals parameters to ensure the water complies with all safety standards. |
*The charging period is the sum of the times the officer spends dealing exclusively with this task. It will include travelling to and from the site, administrative duties and delivery of samples. Fractions of an hour will be rounded up or down to the nearest 15 minutes.
** This charge is based upon extensive analysis of a sample. Where it is appropriate to omit analysis for some parameters, the analysis fee will be reduced to the charge levied on the Council for the restricted analysis.
Sources of further information
If your home or business is served by a private water supply and you would like more information, or would like to arrange a test, or simply wish to check whether you are already on our register, please contact us by email technical@runnymede.gov.uk, by phone on 01932 838383 or write to us at:
Technical Services Department
Environmental Protection Division
Runnymede Borough Council
Runnymede Civic Centre
Station Road
Addlestone.
KT15 2AH
Drinking Water Inspectorate leaflet: Keeping your private water supply safe
Drinking Water Inspectorate leaflet: New Private Water Supply Regulations- what do they mean for me?
Drinking Water Inspectorate: Summary of The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009