Private water supply risk assessment charges - East Dorset
The regulations set out maximum charges that the we can apply to cover their costs of risk assessing, sampling and analysing the water supply. The actual charges are set out in the tables below with the maximum permitted charge shown;
Risk assessment charges
| Service | Charge |
|---|
| Risk assessment (each assessment) |
£19 per hour x the time taken to complete the activity to a maximum of £500 |
| Sampling visit1 (each visit) |
£19 per hour x the time taken to complete the activity to a maximum of £100 |
| Investigation (each investigation) |
£19 per hour x the time taken to complete the activity to a maximum of £100 |
| Granting an authorisation (each authorisation) |
£19 per hour x the time taken to complete the activity to a maximum of £100 |
No fee is payable where a sample is taken and analysed solely to confirm or clarify the results of the analysis of a previous sample
The analysis costs for each type of supply are set out in the table below. These costs are charged by the laboratory and so may be subject to change without notice.
Analysis costs
| Supply type | Regulation 10 sample cost (max charge allowed £25) | Audit Sample cost |
|---|
| Single Private Dwellings (upon request) |
£14.75 for pass sample1
£19.97 for failed sample2
|
Price depends on which parameters are identified in the risk assessment up to a maximum of £500 |
| Small supplied |
£14.75 for pass sample1
£19.97 for failed sample2
|
Price depends on which parameters are identified in the risk assessment up to a maximum of £500 |
| Large supplies |
£42.93 |
Price depends on which parameters are identified in the risk assessment up to a maximum of £500 |
1. A pass sample is one where all parameters meet the standard
2. A failed sample is one where one or more parameters fail to meet the standard and the additional cost is due to a re-test of the sample to confirm the failure.
What happens if supplies fail to meet the standards?
Should a sample fail to be wholesome, we must carry out an investigation to determine the cause and has a range of options available to achieve compliance with the standards.
In the event of a private supply constituting a potential danger to human health the council must serve a notice under regulation 18 on the relevant person to either prohibit or restrict the use of that supply. Such notices must be supported by appropriate advice and may be amended by a further notice at any time. Failure to comply with such a notice is an offence. The council must revoke the notice as soon as the danger to human health no longer exists. Such notices have a 28 day appeal period but remain in force unless suspended by the court.
If the supply does not constitute a potential danger to human health then the council must investigate the reason for the failure and can then negotiate informally with the relevant person to secure compliance with the standards. If the relevant person does not agree to this then the council may either;
-
upon application, grant an authorisation for a lower standard with a condition that the relevant person carries out specified improvements within the period of the authorisation (up to a maximum of three years). Such authorisations will only be given following consultation with the Health Protection Agency. After this period an authorisation for a further three years may be granted with the consent of the Secretary of State. Authorisations may be revoked or amended by us at any time
or
-
serve a notice under Section 80 of the Water Industry Act 1991 on the relevant person requiring the relevant person to carry out specified improvements within the period specified in the notice. If works are not completed then the council can undertake the works and recover the costs from the relevant person