Private Water Supplies
What is a private water supply?
In general terms a private water supply is any water supply which is not provided by a water company. It is not a mains supply.
A private water supply could serve just one property or it could be a large supply with a large network of pipes supplying water to many properties. The water may come from a variety of sources, such as a spring, well, borehole, pond or stream.
Quality standards for water
Good quality water is very important to everyday life. Every house or commercial premises must have a sufficient supply of wholesome water for it to be fit for occupation or use.
To make sure that water is used in the home and for producing food is of the high quality needed to protect public health, the Government has set legal quality standards for all water used for drinking, washing and cooking or used in businesses which produce food or drink.
The role of the local authority
The Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2010 place a duty on local authorities in Wales to sample and risk assess all private water supplies with the exception of supplies serving a single dwelling. The frequency of sampling and risk assessment is specified in the regulations. The frequency of sampling and risk assessment is specified in the Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2010.
View the level of charges for private water supply sampling and analysis, risk assessment and investigation.
Requests for the sampling and analysis of supplies not covered by the Regulations may also be made and are subject to the same charges.
Local authorities also have a duty to identify private water supplies. A questionnaire is available to register details of a supply and is available below to download as a PDF file.
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Further information
Additional information may be obtained from the following related links:
DWI is responsible for assessing the quality of drinking water in England and Wales, taking enforcement action if standards are not being met and when water is unfit for human consumption.
The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) is the economic regulator for water and sewerage services in England and Wales. It is a non-ministerial government department led by the Director General of Water Services.
The leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales.
