Private Water Supplies

A private water supply is any supply not provided by a water company, it is not a mains supply. The water may come from a spring, well, borehole, pond or stream.

Classification Of Supply

Each supply is classified using criteria regarding use of the water specified by the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991. There are two categories of supply:

Category One

This is a supply used for domestic purposes and is further subdivided into six classes (A, B, C, D, E and F) dependent on how many people use the supply.

Category Two

This involves a supply where water is used for food production purposes and is further subdivided into five classes (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) dependent upon the volume used each day.

The Councils Role In Private Water Supplies 

The Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991 state that all local authorities must ensure that all private water supplies in the area provide water of a sufficiently high quality to protect public health. Harborough District Council achieve this through routine water sampling and by making recommendations to improve the supply if need be.

The frequency and parameters of the sampling are dependent upon the category of the supply.

The Private Water Supply Regulations allow the council to recover the costs incurred in the sampling and analysis of a supply.

Sampling Parameters 

There are three different areas in which the council may test your water. Basic, Additional and Coliform parameters.

Basic Parameters

Look at pH, conductivity, turbidity, colour, qualitative taste and odour, nitrates, total coliforms and e-coli.

Additional Parameters

Looks at copper, aluminium, zinc and lead. In acidic water these metals may well be present.

Coliform Parameters

Coliforms indicate that bacteria which is potentially hazardous to health may be present. This may be a result of animal or bird droppings, sewage or a build up of dirt in the tank pipe work.

Where Do You Take The Sample From? 

The sample is taken from a property selected randomly from the supply. If the water is used in food production a sample is usually taken from a kitchen tap used to supply water for drinking or cooking.

How Do I get To Know The Results? 

Within 28 days of the results being available to the council a copy of the report will be sent to every property, or the owner of the water supply.

What Happens If My Supply Fails To Meet The Standards? 

If the local authority believe the water will not damage the health of those that use it they may relax some of the standards, otherwise the council will insist upon improvement of the water supply under section 80 of the Water Industry Act.

The Council can provide general advice on improvements which can be made to the supply to remove contamination. It is recommended that any stock proof fencing associated with the supply is inspected, as it is important that it is well maintained to prevent any animals entering and contaminating the supply. Storage tanks and pipe work which form part of the supply should be flushed and cleaned thoroughly to remove any dirt which may have built up in the system.