The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Sampling: new sources

17.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) any source which has not been used for the supply of water by a water undertaker; and

(b) any source which has been so used but not so used for a period of six months preceding the date on which the water undertaker proposes to supply water from it.

(2) A water undertaker must take or cause to be taken in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4), such samples of water as enable it to establish—

(a) whether water can be supplied from that source without contravening Article 108(1) of the 2006 Order; and

(b) the treatment necessary to ensure that Article 108(1) of the 2006 Order is complied with in relation to the supply of that water.

(3) The samples must be taken or cause to be taken—

(a) before a water undertaker supplies water from a source mentioned in paragraph (1)(a); and

(b) as soon as is reasonably practicable after it has begun to supply water from a source mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).

(4) Samples must be taken—

(a) in the case of a source mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), in respect of—

(i) the parameters listed in Schedules 1 and 2;

(ii) any other element, organism or substance which, in the opinion of the water undertaker, may cause the supply to contravene Article 108(1) of the 2006 Order; and

(iii) any other element, organism or substance required to be monitored by a risk assessment.

(b) in the case of a source mentioned in paragraph (1)(b), in respect of—

(i) the parameters listed in Table A in Schedule 1;

(ii) the conductivity, hydrogen ion and turbidity parameters; and

(iii) any other parameter as regards which the water undertaker is of the opinion that its concentration or value is likely to have altered since the last occasion on which water from that source was analysed.

(5) Unless the conditions in paragraph (6) are satisfied, a water undertaker must not supply water from a source mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) for regulation 5(1) purposes until one month has passed following the day on which the water undertaker complied with regulation 31(1) with respect to the source.

(6) The conditions are that a water undertaker—

(a) must supply water from the source as a matter of urgency in order to prevent an unexpected interruption in piped supply to consumers; and

(b) before the supply is made, has carried out a risk assessment specifically with respect to the source.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (6)(b), regulation 30 must apply for supplies made as a matter of urgency as if “treatment works” includes a source from which untreated water is supplied.