Mains / Private Supply water

Mains Water

Water is tested by the Cambridge Water Company who make the results available to South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (This link will open in a new window) (DWI) is responsible for assessing the quality of drinking water in England and Wales, taking enforcement action if standards are not being met, and appropriate action when water is unfit for human consumption.

Private Water Supply

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. No water rates are paid for these supplies although the person who owns a supply may make a charge. The owner or person who uses the supply is responsible for maintaining it. About 1% of the population use water from private supplies.

South Cambridgeshire District Council will test the quality and safety of water in a private supply. The number of times a sample has to be taken and tested will depend on the number of people who use the supply, generally speaking the more people who use the supply the more frequent and more detailed the tests have to be. Tests may be carried out on request where a problem is suspected.