Water
Private water supplies
We have a duty to ensure the wholesomeness of private water supplies under The Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016. A private water supply is water intended for human consumption that isn't provided directly by a water undertaker or licensed water supplier. Typically, this water is sourced from a borehole or well.
Private distribution systems (where the public supply is distributed by a third party to users who make payment for their water to that third party, not the water undertaker) are included in the regulations.
The regulations require us to:
- carry out regular risk assessments and monitoring of such supplies
- take action if a supply is found to be unwholesome or a potential danger to health
In carrying out its functions, we may charge a fee (see the following table).
|
Activity |
Maximum charge £ |
Charging Scheme |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Risk Assessment |
500 |
Officer hourly rate × time |
£43 per hour |
|
Sampling per visit |
100 |
Laboratory cost plus admin fee of £70 |
Fee includes travel, visit, sampling, assessment, administration |
|
Investigation |
100 |
Officer hourly rate × time |
For test failure |
|
Granting Authorisation |
100 |
Officer hourly rate × time |
Where there's a temporary breach of water standards whilst remedial works are being done |
|
Analysis |
|||
|
Domestic |
25 |
£25 |
<10m3/day of water used or <50 people on the supply |
|
Commercial - During Check monitoring |
100 |
Officer hourly rate × time |
To ensure compliance with water standards |
|
Commercial - During Audit monitoring |
500 |
Officer hourly rate × time plus analysis cost |
For additional pollutants that are not routinely sampled |
If you don't pay Thames Water for your water supply, you may have a private water supply. If so, contact us on environmental.protection@southwark.gov.uk.
Register of private water supplies
We're obliged to maintain a register of local private water supplies. At the present time, there are no entries in the register.
Page last updated: 18 September 2017
