Private Supplies
A private water supply is any water supply that is not provided by a water company. It is not a "mains" supply. About 1% of the population of England have private water supplies to their homes. Most private water supplies are situated in the more remote, rural parts. The source of the supply may be a well, borehole, spring, stream, river, lake or pond. The supply may serve just one property or several properties through a network of pipes.
Private supplies are routinely tested within Huntingdonshire district for bacteriological and chemical quality. However, any private water supply can pose a threat to health unless the water is properly protected and treated. The supply may become contaminated with bacteria, protozoa, parasites and viruses (micro-organisms) or other substances. Many of these are harmless, but some may cause serious illness or even death in vulnerable people. You may not be able to tell whether your water is safe as contamination may not show by smell, taste or colour of the water. Unlike public supplies many private supplies are not treated to remove contamination.
You need to keep your water supply safe. If you have a private supply make sure you inspect all parts of your system, including the catchment area regularly to check that it is good order and has not been interfered with or damaged. Any defects should be put right as quickly as possible. If your supply is from:
Springs, Wells or Boreholes:
Check that the source is adequately protected to stop surface water getting into your supply, particularly at times of heavy rain.
Streams, Rivers, Lakes or Ponds:
The collection arrangement should include a settlement pond to allow larger particles to settle out before the water flows into the supply and should also include a sand or gravel filter after the settlement pond to remove organic material and small animals. These filters may not remove all micro-organisms and will not remove chemical contamination. It must be ensured that the water being collected is not contaminated by discharges from a septic tank, any sewage discharge upstream or run-off from farmland.
If You Supply Water to Others:
If you supply water to other people in the course of a business, for example by renting out holiday accommodation or using water for food production, you have a duty of care towards customers for the safety of water you supply. If you ever suspect that the water that you are providing is not safe you may have to:
Advise boiling all water for drinking and water production and / or
Use or suggest others use bottled water
Sources of Contamination
Micro-organisms
A number of serious illnesses can be contracted from water that is contaminated with particular micro-organisms. The most likely source of contamination of the water will be animal droppings. Water supplies which are close to farmed land where animals graze or where manure is spread are at most risk. The risk is particularly high at times of heavy rainfall when water may run directly off farmland and carry micro-organisms into private water supplies. Discharges from cess pits or septic tanks could also be sources of contamination.
All those who drink contaminated water can be at risk of infection. However, the risk of infection is even higher for those people who do not drink the water regularly or are not used to the water. In such instances, it may be advisable that they drink only bottled or boiled water.
Should I Get My Water Supply Treated?
There are regulatory standards concerning water quality and sufficiency that owners of supplies must comply with. If your water supply is contaminated or may become contaminated, you can, and it is recommended that you, install treatment for your private water supply. Many different forms of treatment are available and its recommended that you contact us, to enable us to advise you on regulatory standards and treatment methods.
Should I Get My Water Supply Checked?
Huntingdonshire District Council monitors the quality of private water supplies that we are aware of. You can also contact Huntingdonshire District Council if you would like to have an additional test done or if you are the sole user of a supply and you would like to have your water tested for the first time.
For contact details please use the link on the right.
Public Water Supplies
A public supply is any water supply that is provided by a water company. It is a "mains" supply. About 99% of the population of England have mains water supplies to their homes. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) checks that water companies supply water that is safe to drink when it reaches your home. For more details about the Drinking Water Inspectorate and their findings Use the link on the right to view their website
In Huntingdonshire there are two water companies:
Anglian Water
Anglian Water customers who would like details of their drinking water quality can contact Anglian Water by using the link on the right, or by writing to Drinking Water Standards, Henderson House, Lancaster Way, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 6XQ.
Customers with speech or profound hearing difficulties can contact Anglian Water via a text telephone service. This minicom service is available any time of the day by calling 0800 917 5901.
If English is not your first language and you need help from Anglian Water, please call 0800 91 91 55 and ask for their language line service.
Cambridge Water
Cambridge Water customers who would like details of their drinking water quality can contact Cambridge Water by telephone on 0845 076 7070, or by e-mailing them using the link on the right.
If you would like to write to Cambridge Water, correspondence can be sent to: Cambridge Water
41 Rustat Road
Cambridge
CB1 3QS
How do I complain about mains water quality in Huntingdonshire?
If you have a complaint about your water services, you should first contact your local water company. The details of the local companies are listed above. All water companies have a complaints procedure approved by the Office of Water Services (Ofwat), the independent regulator. The contact details for all water and sewerage companies are given on the Ofwat website.
If you have complained but are not satisfied with the response, you can contact WaterVoice. WaterVoice Eastern are responsible for customers of a number of companies including Anglian Water Services and Cambridge Water.
WaterVoice Eastern
Ground Floor
Carlyle House
Carlyle Rd
CAMBRIDGE
CB4 3DN
tel: 01223 323889, or
Lo-call number charged at local rate: 08457 959369
fax: 01223 323930