Private Water Supplies
Please follow this link to make an online enquiry, complaint or report, relating to this service - Private Water Supplies
What is a private water supply?
A private water supply is any water supply which is not provided by a water undertaker and therefore is a non-mains supply. A private water supply may serve just one property or it could be a large supply providing water to many properties. The water may be abstracted from surface water sources such as springs or streams, or underground sources such as wells or boreholes.
The role of the Local Authority
The Kennet area has over 260 private water supplies serving either single or multiple dwellings.
Kennet District Council's Environmental Health Officers have responsibility to make sure that water used in the home and for producing food is of such a standard so as to protect public health, the government has set legal quality standards which all water used for drinking, washing and cooking of food or food production must comply with.
Under the Water Industry Act 1991, local authorities are required to check the quality of all private water supplies in their areas and to keep a public register. The Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991 control the way that local authorities carry out their duties in relation to these supplies.
Each supply is required to be formally classified, the outcome of which is dependant upon the number of people and properties served by the supply, the volume of water used and the way in which it is used. i.e. domestic use and / or commercial use, such as for food production, dairy farming etc.
The Regulations then require local authorities to sample private water supplies, the frequency of sampling and the parameters to be tested will depend upon the classification awarded. Those supplies with a low classification may only require testing for bacteriological analysis whilst those with a higher classification may require both bacteriological and chemical analysis, and will include parameters such as trace metals and nitrates.
Please note : the cost incurred in taking and analysing these samples is charged to the person responsible for the supply. This may be the person who owns the land the supply comes from or the person who uses the supplyImproving private water supplies
Should the water not meet the quality standards defined in the Regulations then certain standards may be relaxed where there is no health risk, or the local authority may insist that the private water supply is improved. Such steps may involve improvement works to the supply infrastructure, installing a form of water treatment or ultimately connecting those properties served to a public water supply. Local authorities have enforcement powers under the regulations to ensure that any works specified are carried out.
Common problems with private water supplies
Private water supplies are often polluted with bacteria known as coliforms, which originate from animal or bird droppings, or sewage. Evidence of these organisms in the water will indicate that the supply is being contaminated between the source of the supply and the tap where the sample was taken. The water may have been polluted before it went to a storage reservoir or may be as a result of a damaged supply pipe.
Water can be polluted by normal agricultural practices such as spreading manure or by fertilisers running off the land or through the soil into the ground water. Septic tanks, manure heaps and drains can all cause pollution as well as animals such as rodents or birds gaining access to the supply.
For further advice please contact the Housing and Pollution Team in Environmental Health and Protection Services on 01380 724911 or email kennet@kennet.gov.uk
Useful links
Drinking Water Inspectorate (External link)
Mains Water testing
We do not test mains water. Please contact your water supplier for further advice.
Wessex Water sewerage services
Tel : 0845 600 4600
Website : www.wessexwater.co.uk (External link)
Thames Water sewerage services
Tel : 0845 920 0800
Website : www.thameswater.co.uk (External link)
Southern Water sewerage services
Tel : 0845 278 0845
Website : www.southernwater.co.uk (External link)