Private Water Supply Charging Scheme

The charging scheme adopted by ECDC, in accordance with Regulation 21 of the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016 (external link), is one which covers Officers time in undertaking investigations and assessments, and which covers the costs of water quality analysis. If enforcement action is required costs can only be claimed for such activity if a statutory notice is not complied with and an individual becomes liable to a fine on summary conviction.

Environment, Transport & Planning:

Water Quality Problems

What to do if your water supply fails a bacteriological test?

If your water fails due to E Coli or Coliforms the Local Authority will provide you with the necessary advice but in summary they will advise you to BOIL YOUR WATER or ONLY USE BOTTLED WATER.

Until further tests, water at your tap is not wholesome and could cause illness such as diarrhoea or virus infections

All water used for drinking and food preparation should be boiled briskly for at least one minute.

This includes:

Environment, Transport & Planning:

Private Water Monitoring

ECDC has a legal duty under the Private Water Supply (England) Regulations 2016 to keep itself informed about the safety of large, commercial and small private water supplies in its area.

The way ECDC carries out its duties relating to private water supplies are controlled. These include:

Environment, Transport & Planning:

Private Water Supplies

A private water supply is one which is not from a “mains” source, such as a:

well
borehole
spring
stream
river
lake or pond

As East Cambridgeshire is a relatively rural district we do have a number of properties that are not supplied by mains water from the water companies. There are presently about 50 such private water supplies in the District.

Safe drinking water is essential to good health. Consequently, private water supplies must be properly protected and treated to prevent contamination by: