Private & Rural Water Supplies Specialist
Specialist surveys and advice for rural water supply users and local authorities
Why WaterSense?
WaterSense provide home buyer reports, risk assessments, water safety plans and general consultancy on private supplies.
With over 10 years experience in all aspects of Private Water Supplies and environmental risk management we are experts in our field. Numerous Local Authorities have contracted us and we have a private client base extending from private individuals to estate owners and land managers.
We have a proven track record of completing projects on time, within budget and with additional value added.
Services
Home Buyer Reports
Buying a property with a private water supply can be a daunting process. There are often problems with private water supplies; our report has the potential to save you significant unexpected costs, stress and also to protect your health.
Water Safety Plans & Consultancy
Whether you have a regulatory or technical issue, WaterSense are here to help.
Water Management Plans / Water Safety Plans are our speciality ensuring that your water supply is, and remains, safe for you and consumers.
Risk Assessment
With hundreds of private water supplies risk assessed, WaterSense are the expert choice for Local Authorities seeking an effective and straight-forward outsourced solution.
Water Sampling
We offer a water sampling and reporting service in compliance with UKAS guidelines and regulatory standards.
Expertise
Our experience in private water supply work includes risk assessment, enforcement, water sampling, consultation, water safety plans, system design, installation and servicing.
Home Buyer Reports
A standard Home Report does not assess a private water supply. What if the water supply poses a risk to your health, or worse still, dries up completely? What if the landowner threatens to cut-off your water? Or the farmer spreads slurry or pesticides around your source? What does all that treatment equipment do, is it necessary and is it expensive to maintain? What Regulatory requirements might you have to abide by? An unwholesome supply of water may mean your new property is deemed uninhabitable under the Housing Act. You could stand to lose a lot of money.
WaterSense undertake a full survey of the water supply to your dream home and advise you if it is safe to use. All stakeholders on the supply will be identified and, where possible, agreements between parties reviewed. A water sample will be taken and the results interpreted for you. Advice on how the Regulations may affect you will be given and whether the water supply complies and if it presents any risk to health.
Protect yourself from potentially significant costs and have the water supply surveyed prior to purchase.
Risk Assessment
With hundreds of risk assessments undertaken on behalf of Local Authorities in England and Scotland, WaterSense is your expert choice. A full and comprehensive report is produced looking at all aspects of the water supply from infrastructure to safety management plans. The report is designed to empower the PWS users to understand and improve their supply - it is not simply a 'box-ticking' exercise. All 'Relevant Persons' are identified. An ongoing sampling schedule is developed. Potential enforcement is identified with an enforcement strategy. All work is undertaken in compliance with the DWI / DWQR standards. The company operates in an IR35 compliant manner and carries £2M in Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance. Difficult and complex supplies are a speciality.
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Case Studies & Clients
Private Property Purchase
WaterSense were instructed by a prospective home buyer in North Yorkshire. The buyer was interested to know if the current water supply arrangements were adequate in terms of yield and quality.
WaterSense undertook a full-suite sample analysis of the spring-derived supply and made a full assessment of the supply infrastructure. Whilst the yield was deemed sufficient, the infrastructure of the water supply was very old and unsatisfactory. Levels of colour, iron (oxidised) and lead in the water were deemed financially unviable to resolve. Options to upgrade the system were provided with an emphasis on replacing the source altogether.
The buyer negotiated a significant discount on the property price and installed a borehole to replace the aging spring supply.
Contractual Work
Our experience is built upon years of working with Local Authorities, in that time we have encountered every conceivable type of supply, providing water to churches, climbing huts, factories, distilleries, pubs, hotels and villages over 100 properties.
The in-depth knowledge that WaterSense has regarding complex treatment system and design stand us apart from others.
We have a strong working experience of ion-exchange, iron oxidisers, manganese greensand filters, pH correction, UV disinfection amongst others and thus know when these have been installed correctly and the health risks when they have not.
Consultancy & Training
WaterSense have adapted to many different client requirements including consultancy on the latest James Bond and Star Wars productions, project management of major water supply improvements, development of Water safety Plan templates, delivering training courses and assisting with distillery development.
Got a water project in mind? Give as a call!
Testimonials
"Gavin worked with us on a number of water supply matters and proved to be knowledgeable, professional and straightforward, with a sympathetic understanding of the processes involved in marrying public sector policies to private sector practicalities"
Torquil Gordon-DuffEstate Owner, Drummuir Estates, Moray
“Gavin was friendly, extremely professional and knowledgeable throughout - providing a mass of useful and relevant information. His dealings with everyone on-site were handled with utmost professionalism." His report was thorough, in depth and pitched at exactly the right level"
Barney StrangeHome Buyer, Dentdale, Cumbria
“Gavin worked with us for 2 yrs improving private water supplies in the region. He is conscientious and systematic with good analytical skills."
James McLennan
Principle EHO, Moray Council, Elgin
Contact us
Call now 07775 996679
Registered address:
EH20 Business Centre
6 Dryden Road
Loanhead
EH20 9LZ
Company Reg # SC533860 (Scotland)
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Regulations and Standards
WaterSense complies with, and is conversant in, the following Regulations and Standards:
UNITED KINGDOM
Regulations as set by UK Government and regulated by Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) (England) and Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWQR) (Scotland):
- The Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies) (Scotland) Regulations 2017
- The Private and Public Water Supplies (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2015
- The Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006
- The Private Water Supplies (Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2006
- Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 - relevant sections
- The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 - relevant sections
- Water (Scotland) Act 1980 - relevant sections
- Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 - relevant sections
- The Private Water Supplies (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2018
- The Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016
- The Water Industry Act 1991 - relevant sections
- Water Act 2003 - relevant sections
- WRAS (Water Regulatory Advisory Service)
- European Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC
- EN 15975-2:2013 Part 2 - European Risk Assessment standards: Security of drinking water supply – Guidelines for risk and crisis management
INTERNATIONAL
- WHO World Health Organisation - Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality
