Page last updated at 11:53 GMT, Thursday, November 26 2009

Private Water Supplies

All private water supplies can impose a threat to health unless they are propertly protected and treated.  You may not be able to tell whether your water is safe as contamination may not show as smell, taste or colour of the water.  Unlike public supplies many private supplies are not treated to remove contamination. 

The role of the Local Authority

Under Section 77 of the Water Industry Act 1991 the local authority has to check the quality of all water supplies within the area.  The Private Water Supply Regulations 1991 provide for the registration of private water supplies.  To register a supply please contact the Environmental Health Department.

The regulations also set out how often a local authority must take a sample of water from a private water supply, what tests it must do on the sample and how much it can charge for taking the sample and testing the water.  The cost of all samples taken in accordance with the regulations are recharged to the owner of the supply.  Please contact us for further information and prices.  If the analysis results indicates that the water is not suitable for drinking, a Notice may be served.  The matter may be discussed with the person responsible for the supply and Environmental Health may require remedial measures to be taken to remedy the situation.

General Information

A private water supply is any water supply which is not provided by a water company and which woudl not be considered to be a mains supply.  Private water supplies can be obtained from a variety of sources including:-

• Wells
• Boreholes
• Springs
• Rivers and Streams
• Lakes or ponds

If you need further information contact us