Free tests for homes with private drinking water supplies

1 March 2011

The Health Protection Agency (HPA), Cornwall Council and the British Geological Survey (BGS) have teamed up to study the quality of drinking water from approximately 250 homes that have private water supplies.

This follows new private water supply regulations that came into force in 2009 which state that all local councils have a duty to assess the quality of private water drinking supplies in their areas by January, 2015.

This first study will take place across East Cornwall and target homes from the former areas of Caradon, Restormel and North Cornwall. Water tests, undertaken by BGS will measure the level of selected metals and chemicals present.

By testing for metals and minerals in this way, the programme will help protect residents who drink from private water supplies. If any private water supplies are found to have levels above the legal level, special treatment at the source can be advised to reduce the contaminants and make the water safe to drink.

The study will also improve local knowledge of private drinking water supplies in the area and increase the understanding of where high levels of naturally occurring metal is present in the ground.

Mike Studden, HPA Environmental Public Health Scientist said:

"We hope that as many residents as possible take advantage of the free private water supplies test. The team have written to all residents in the targeted areas to tell them about the study and offer a test. The letters will be followed up with a phone call to directly discuss if residents want to take part in the free testing.

“This pilot study is one of the first of its kind in Cornwall and we hope to use the information to map if high levels of metals are present in particular geological formations.

"This mapping will also help Cornwall Council to understand the areas where minerals and metals are likely to be higher. The council will be able to use this information to be more targeted with their subsequent sampling of other private water supplies in Cornwall.

"If successful, the study could be rolled out to help other councils meet their duty under this legislation across the country.”

Graham Martin, Senior Officer (Environmental Protection) said:

"We are looking forward to working with the Health Protection Agency on this study. It will be useful to identify the distribution of selected substances in the ground and correlate this with geology.

"However, I want to make sure that residents understand that this study is separate to the ongoing „risk assessment. process that the Council is carrying out at certain private water supplies as part of its statutory duties.

"Therefore some householders may be asked detailed questions about their private water supplies for information being gathered by the Council and some of those may also be offered a free test for their private water supply by the Health Protection Agency as part of this study.”

Notes to Editors
The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 can be viewed at:
http://www.dwi.gov.uk/stakeholders/legislation/pwsregs2009.pdf
The British Geological Survey is a public body funded by the Natural Environment Research Council to provide expert and impartial advice to the UK government on all aspects of geosciences.
Web site: www.bgs.ac.uk

Last reviewed: 16 June 2011