What is a private water supply?
A private water supply is any water supply which is not provided by a water company. It is not a mains supply.
A private water supply typically originates from one of the following :
- Well
Borehole
Stream
Spring
River
A private water supply could serve just one property or it could be a large supply with a large network of pipes supplying water to many properties. The water may come from a variety of sources, such as a spring, well, borehole, pond or stream.
Standards for water quality
To make sure that water is used in the home and for producing food is of the high quality needed to protect public health, the Government has set legal quality standards for all water used for drinking, washing and cooking or used in businesses which produce food or drink. These are the same standards set for mains water supplies.
Local Authority duty
The Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2010 place a duty on local authorities in Wales to sample and risk assess all private water supplies in their area within 5 years, with the exception of supplies serving a single dwelling. The frequency of sampling and risk assessment is specified in the regulations.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2010/66/contents/made
Carmarthenshire County Council Charges – 2011 to 2012
Private water supply sampling and analysis, risk assessment and investigation.
| LARGE / COMMERCIAL SUPPLIES |
| Risk Assessment |
£500 |
| Visit |
£100 |
| Check Sample |
£65 |
| Microbioligy Sample |
£15.24 |
| Total for initial visit and samping |
£180.24 plus VAT |
| |
|
| SMALL SUPPLIES |
| Risk Assessment |
£200 |
| Visit |
£75 |
| Regulation 10 Sample |
£25 |
| Total for visit and sampling |
£100 plus VAT |
| |
|
| SINGLE DOMESTIC SUPPLIES |
| Risk Assessment |
£100 (if requested only) |
| Visit |
£50 |
| Regulation 10 Sample |
£25 |
| Total for visit and sample only |
£75 plus VAT |
Requests for the sampling and analysis of supplies not covered by the Regulations may also be made and are subject to the same charges.
Local authorities also have a duty to identify private water supplies. If you have queries or concerns in relation to your own private water supply, please contact the Public Protection Division of Carmarthenshire County Council on 01267 234567 for advice.
Further information
Additional information may be obtained from the following related links:
http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/
DWI is responsible for assessing the quality of drinking water in England and Wales, taking enforcement action if standards are not being met and when water is unfit for human consumption.
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/
The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) is the economic regulator for water and sewerage services in England and Wales. It is a non-ministerial government department led by the Director General of Water Services.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
The leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales.