Water Pollution

The Borough Council maintains a watching brief on the quality of the recreational waters in the Borough including dykes, rivers, ponds, broads and the sea.

However, the Environment Agency is the regulatory authority for incidents affecting these waters.

The Borough Council is pleased to refer complaints and enquiries on to the Environment Agency. Alternatively, you may wish to contact the Agency yourself on the numbers below.

Drinking Water Quality
The quality of mains drinking water is regulated by the Government’s Drinking Water Inspectorate. Their task is to check the local water supply companies, both Essex and Suffolk Water and Anglian Water abstract and treat water in the proper way to make it safe to drink.

However, the Borough Council also has a duty to keep itself informed as to the quality of water supplied to local residents and businesses, but has no regulatory powers.

The quality of the water supplied by the Companies in the Borough is extremely good, with over 99% of samples taken over the year meeting the legal standards.

What if you have a problem with your water supply?

In the first instance you should contact your supplying company. Emergency and enquiry numbers are listed under Water in the telephone directory. If you are unhappy with their response then contact Environmental Health or see useful links.

Private Water Supplies
A private supply is any water supply not provided by a water company. In this part of the country most of these supplies are sourced from wells or boreholes but can also be water from ponds, streams and springs. They can serve just one property or many properties but tend to be found in the more rural parts of the Borough.

Often, these supplies are consumed without further treatment. Unfortunately they are frequently contaminated with bacteria known as coliforms and often have elevated levels of certain chemicals in them, particularly those used in agriculture such as nitrates.

The quality of private supplies is measured against the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991 and are enforced by the Council.

The Council has an obligation to sample certain private supplies, but the majority of those in the Borough serve just one property. In these cases, the Council is unlikely to routinely sample. However, we will sample on request at the householders expense.

If you have a private supply and would like advice on quality and treatment please contact Environmenta Health.