Private Water Supplies
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, such as Dwr Cymru/ Welsh Water. It is not a ‘mains’ supply and is therefore private. No water rates are paid for these supplies although the person who owns a supply may make a charge. A private water supply typically originates from one of the following sources:
- Wells
- Boreholes
- Streams
- Springs
- Rivers
- Lakes or Ponds etc
As such, private water supplies are generally found in the more rural areas of Torfaen. It is estimated that around 1% of the population of England and Wales has private water supplies to their homes (Drinking Water Inspectorate, 2010). According to the most recent Register update in Torfaen there are currently 76 properties served by a Private Water Supplies.
A private water supply could serve just one dwelling, be shared amongst several properties or it could be a large or commercial supply with a network of pipes supplying water to many properties. It also includes a supply provided for the purpose of bottling water.
Common problems with private supplies
Private water supplies are often polluted with bacteria known as coliforms. Coliform bacteria are commonly found in the environment (e.g. soil, vegetation and water). Their presence in water alone does not represent a risk to health. They can reproduce and grow on surfaces in the home such as the plastic inserts at the end of taps.
E.coli (Escherichia coli) is a coliform that is found in large numbers in the intestinal tract of all warm -blooded animals. Some strains of E.coli can cause illness. The presence of E.coli in drinking water almost always indicates recent faecal contamination – meaning that there is a possibility that harmful germs are also present.
The land on which the source of your supply is located can also cause the water to pick up naturally occurring metals. For example, acidic water coming from peat moorland can pick up aluminium and manganese. Acidic water can also corrode copper and lead pipes.
Water could be polluted by normal agricultural practices such as spreading farm sludge, or by fertilisers running off the land or by percolating through the soil into the water. Septic tanks, manure heaps and drains can all cause pollution as well as animals getting access to the supply.
Private water supply fees and charges
These are the current fees and charges for the risk assessment, sampling, investigation and analysis of private water supplies in Torfaen. All fees are subject to VAT where appropriate. Charges for officer time are based upon an hourly rate applicable at the time of the work being undertaken. A breakdown of these charges can be made available upon request.
Private water supply fees and charges
| Risk Assessment | Maximum Fee (£) |
|---|
| Regulation 9 supplies (Commercial) |
700 |
| Regulation 10 supplies (Single dwelling) |
300 |
| Regulation 11 supplies (Shared domestic or tenanted properties) |
300 |
Private water supply fees and charges
| Sampling | Maximum Fee (£) |
|---|
| Sampling (for each visit based on officer time and not inclusive of analysis costs which are outlined below) |
100 |
Private water supply fees and charges
| Investigation | Maximum Fee (£) |
|---|
| Investigation (each investigation) |
250 |
Private water supply fees and charges
| Authorisations | Maximum Fee (£) |
|---|
| Granting an authorisation (each authorisation) |
100 |
Private water supply fees and charges
| Analysing a sample (laboratory testing costs) | Maximum Fee (£) |
|---|
| For regulation 10 or 11 supplies |
25 |
| Taken during monitoring for Group A parameters |
110 |
| Taken during monitoring for Group B parameters |
600 |
Private water supply fees and charges
| Private Water Supply Register | Maximum Fee (£) |
|---|
| Single entry copy |
23 |
| Copy of whole register |
46 |
Quality standards for water
Safe drinking water is essential to good health and so private water supplies must be properly protected and treated to prevent contamination by:
- Micro-organisms
- Chemicals or
- Other substances such as lead
Indeed, water is at risk of being contaminated from everything that it comes into contact with. Every house must have a good supply of clean, wholesome, fresh water for it to be fit for people to live in.
What are the Councils responsibilities
The Commercial Services Team are responsible for monitoring every supply and must keep records of every private water supply within Torfaen in accordance with the Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2017. Amongst other things, these regulations require the Council to carry out a risk assessment of any shared, large or commercial supply. The regulations also specify how often the local authority must take a sample of water from a private supply, what tests must be carried out on the sample and how much to charge for testing the water.
The Council may monitor private water supplies which serve a single, domestic dwelling and must carry out a sample at the request of the owner or occupier of the dwelling.
Charges for risk assessments, sampling, investigation and analysis of shared and commercial supplies will apply. Requests for sampling by the owner or occupier will also apply, however routine monitoring of single, domestic dwellings are unlikely to carry a charge.
What if I am concerned about the quality of my water?
Torfaen Council’s Commercial Services Team can recommend ways to prevent pollution of your water supply and improve its quality.
If you are concerned about the quality of water supplied to your property from a private water supply, you can ask the Commercial Services Team to test a sample of the water. Be advised that Torfaen Council may charge you for this service. Even if there is a problem with the quality of your supply, there are a variety of treatment methods available to deal with most circumstances.
Further information
For further information on Private Water Supplies, contact the Commercial Services Team on 01633 648009.
Useful Links
The Drinking Water Inspectorate website.
The Water Industry Act 1991 and the The Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2017 can be viewed on the Office of Public Sector Information website.
The Consumer Council for Water website.
For information on mains drinking water quality visit the Welsh Water website.
Last Modified: 05/08/2024
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