PART VIIWATER TREATMENT

Contamination from pipes30

1

Where there is a risk (“the prescribed risk”) that water supplied by a water undertaker would, for the reason mentioned in paragraph (2), after leaving the undertaker’s pipes—

a

contain a concentration of copper in excess of 2mg/litre; or

b

contain a concentration of lead in excess of 10μg/litre,

the water undertaker shall, subject to paragraph (3), treat the water in such a way as will, in its opinion, eliminate the prescribed risk or reduce it to a minimum.

2

The reason referred to in paragraph (1) is the presence in the water of a concentration of copper or lead which is attributable to the fact that copper or lead is the major component of such a pipe as is mentioned in section 68(3)(a) of the Act, or its associated fittings.

3

Paragraph (1) shall not require an undertaker to treat water—

a

if the treatment is unlikely to achieve a significant reduction in the concentration of copper or lead; or

b

if treatment is not reasonably practicable.

4

Where at any time in the period beginning with 25th December 2003 and ending immediately before 25th December 2013, a water undertaker—

a

has reason to believe that water supplied by it for regulation 4 purposes from a pipe to which paragraph (5) applies contains, at the consumer’s tap, a concentration of lead which exceeds 10μg/1 but does not exceed 25μg/1; and

b

has received from the owner of premises to which water is so supplied notice in writing—

i

of the owner’s intention to replace so much of the pipe as belongs to him; and

ii

of his desire that the water undertaker replaces the remainder of the pipe,

the water undertaker shall modify or replace its part of the pipe.

5

This paragraph applies to a pipe—

a

of which the major component is lead;

b

which is subject to water pressure from a water main or would be so subject but for the closing of some valve; and

c

which belongs, as to part, to a water undertaker and, as to the remainder, to the owner of any premises to which the undertaker supplies water for regulation 4 purposes.