What is a private water supply?
A private water supply is any water supply not provided by a licensed water company i.e. Sutton and East Surrey Water or Thames Water. A private water supply can include water from wells, springs and boreholes.
The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 came into force in 2010. This legislation is in place to ensure that water from private water supplies are safe for people to drink and does not contain harmful bacteria or chemicals.
The Regulations place duties upon local authorities to:
- Undertake a risk assessment of the private water supply from the water source to the tap, to identify whether there are any risks to the wholesomeness of the water.
- Take samples from private water supplies periodically to check that concentrations of chemical contaminants and harmful bacteria are within permitted levels:
- Inform consumers if there is any potential risk to health from a water supply and offer advice to minimize any potential danger.
- Investigate any failures causing water to be unwholesome. If a private water supply is thought to constitute a potential danger to health legal notices may be served to improve the water supply or prohibit or restrict the water supply.
Questions and concerns
If you have concerns about the quality of water supplied by the water authority please contact your mains water supplier.
If you have questions about a private water supply in the borough, please use the online regulatory services enquiry form.