A private water supply is any water not provided by a water company and not considered "mains". We monitor private water supply quality to make sure it's safe.
Potential impacts of Brexit
A briefing note has been produced by “Water UK” looking at the potential impact of a “no-deal Brexit” and the availability of treatment chemicals.
Whilst only a proportion of private water supplies (PWS) utilise treatment chemicals to ensure the safety of drinking water, it highlights the need for contingency planning should supplies be disrupted.
Private water supplies can be obtained from a variety of sources including:
- springs
- wells
- boreholes
- rivers and streams;
- and lakes or ponds
- a private distribution system (mains water which is privately distributed by a second party).
The supply may serve just one property or several properties through a network of pipes.
All private water supplies must be registered with the council.
All private water supplies can pose a potential threat to health unless they are properly protected and treated. Unlike main water supplies, many private supplies are not treated to remove contamination. You may not be able to tell whether your water is safe as contamination may not shown as smell, taste or colour of the water.
To protect your water supply you should carry out a risk assessment, monitoring, maintenance and treatment. You should also know your supply, including the source, pipework and plumbing, and protect your supply at the source.
For details about changing to a mains supply, contact Yorkshire Water for advice.
Fees and charges
View our private water supplies fees
| Attachment | Size |
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 BriefingnoteforstakeholdersAugust2019v2.pdf | 711.87 KB |