Last Modified February 13, 2013
What areas of water quality do Environmental Health Officers look at?
Bathing waters
We monitor the quality of water in swimming pools, jacuzzis and paddling pools at leisure centres, private health clubs and hotels.
We check the water is regularly monitored for chemical and microbiological quality (bacteria) on a regular basis and investigate complaints of poor water quality.
Mains water
We monitor manufacturers of foods and drinks, as well as occasionally looking at domestic supply.
Private water supplies
We monitor private water supplies, which is any water supply which is not provided by a mains supply. The majority of private water supplies in Hertsmere are supplied via a borehole, but they could be from a well or spring.
The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 apply to all private water supplies intended for human consumption for domestic purposes (e.g. drinking, cooking, food preparation and washing) and water used for food production purposes.
It also covers water supplied by Affinity Water or a licensed water supplier, which is then further distributed by another person (known as a 'private distribution network').
Our responsibilities
For small supplies (of less than 10m3/day) the monitoring is based on the conclusions of a risk assessment.
Larger private water supplies (greater than 10m3/day), and any supplies that provide water for commercial activities, will require a regular check and audit monitoring from the first year.
We are required to:
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keep records of all private water supplies including private distribution systems, and to submit an annual return to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)
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follow certain procedures if we consider a private water supply is unwholesome, including a requirement to investigate the cause and inform the private water supply users if the supply constitutes a potential danger to human health and give such users advice to allow them to minimise any such potential danger.
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liaise with the Health Protection Agency to seek advice on whether there is potential danger to human health.
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liaise informally with private water supply owner/users to prevent a potential danger to human health. If an informal approach does not achieve this then there are other options open to us in the regulations, including the serving of notices.
Do you charge for the service?
We can make reasonable charges to cover our costs. See our current Fees and charges 2012-2013 Private Water Supplies.
Further information:
General government advice on private water supplies
The Drinking Water Inspectorate, who are the national body for ensuring the quality of water, provide an annual publication How Good is Your Drinking Water.
If you have a private supply that is currently registered and would like to arrange for a risk assessment or samples to be taken please us on 020 8207 7435 or email environmental.health@hertsmere.gov.uk