A LEGAL notice has been handed out following issues with the quality of drinking water in some Worcester homes.
Severn Trent was issued a legal notice by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) following a “significant risk” of iron breaches in the city’s drinking water.
The notice states the drinking water in Worcester has been categorised as “a potential danger to human health or unwholesome”.
However, Defra said the notice related to the aesthetics of the water rather than health risks. High iron levels turn the water an orange colour but will not pose significant health risks to most people.
A water sample collected during a Severn Trent risk assessment in 2020 identified iron levels exceeding acceptable limits.
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But the DWI only issued the notice last month after it found Severn Trent had failed to comply and it was no longer adequately managed.
A spokesperson for the Drinking Water Inspectorate said: “The Drinking Water Inspectorate has issued a formal notice to Severn Trent Water requiring structured, time-bound action to address elevated iron levels in a small area of the Worcester City Water Quality Zone.
“The notice ensures Severn Trent investigates the root cause and delivers solutions, with enforceable deadlines and ongoing monitoring.”
What actions does Severn Trent need to take?
The notice has provided Severn Trent with a strict timeline for completing and submitting investigations, reviews, audits, and solutions to the government body DWI.
The company has until this year to assess the risk of elevated iron levels in Worcester’s drinking water and must deliver its solution by December 2026.
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Severn Trent will also need to regularly sample customers’ taps for iron and continue to report complaints about discoloured water until the notice ends in 2028.
ISSUES: Severn Trent was issued a legal notice by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (Image: Severn Trent Water)
A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “We reported the small increase in iron levels affecting only a handful of households to the DWI during our regular sampling.
“At no stage was there any risk to health as iron in water is not harmful at these slightly elevated levels.
“We traced the cause to a small iron pipe which we are now replacing.
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“The DWI notice does state higher levels can cause ‘unwholesome’ issues – this means discolouration.”
Can I still drink the water in Worcester?
The water in Worcester is still drinkable.
High iron levels are not a health-based standard and can instead affect the water’s aesthetic through discolouration.
Severn Trent said it has not received any reports of discolouration in its water but revealed the issue is normally solved by letting the tap run for a few minutes.
Councillor Richard Udall said he has requested an item on the issue to be added to next week’s Licensing and Environmental Health Committee Agenda.
He said: “Clean drinking water is an important issue, but this appears to be a historical incident and not one which gives any immediate risk, but we will try to find out and offer help and advice where necessary.
“My personal view is that privatisation of the water industry has failed, so this may be evidence that further regulation may be needed.
“Public safety must be our priority, not shareholder profits.
“We will contact the DWI and see what if anything more they can or will tell us. If we gain any more information, we shall share it with residents and elected members”.
