Detailed Guide for Prospective Home Buyers: Essential Factors to Consider When Opting for a Property with a Personal Water Source
Private water supplies, providing drinking water to a significant portion of homes in England, Wales, and Scotland, come in various forms and each has unique maintenance and legal considerations. Here's what you need to know when considering a property with a private water supply.
Private Wells
Individual water sources drilled or dug on private property, private wells require annual testing for bacteria, nitrates, dissolved solids, and pH levels. Mechanical inspections should be performed yearly by certified contractors to check cleanliness and equipment functionality. Unlike public supplies, private wells typically are not regulated by public authorities, but water use and well drilling may be subject to local water management districts and health department regulations.
Private Group Schemes
Serving multiple households in rural or semi-rural communities, private group schemes require periodic water quality testing and system upkeep to ensure safe water delivery. Currently in Ireland, there is no mandatory registration or comprehensive monitoring of all private group schemes, which presents a legislative gap. Authorities urge registering these supplies so that safety inspections and quality monitoring can be applied.
Small Private Supplies
Private water supplies serving public facilities, schools, nursing homes, sports clubs, and self-catering accommodations require frequent water testing and compliance with drinking water safety standards to protect consumers. Currently, such supplies lack mandatory registration and formal monitoring by local authorities in Ireland, creating health risks due to unchecked water quality. Calls for mandatory registration aim to close this regulatory gap.
General Legal Framework and Considerations
Public water systems (serving 25+ people or 15+ connections) are regulated under federal or state laws, requiring routine testing and reporting by suppliers. Very small public systems and private supplies have variable oversight depending on jurisdiction but may fall under health department or water management district regulations. Well drilling and water withdrawal often require permits from water management authorities.
Key Considerations for Home Buyers
- Maintenance Records: Ask for maintenance records and find out if there have been problems with water quality or quantity.
- Shared Supplies: If it's a shared supply, find out how necessary maintenance and repairs are arranged and how costs are divided.
- Legal Access: Ensure legal access for maintenance, inspection, and repair is secured if the water source or pipes are not on the land being bought.
- Commission a Survey: Commission a specialist additional survey if buying a property with a private water supply to be well-informed about all facts.
- Legal Authority: Anyone considering using a private water supply must ensure they have the legal authority to take the water they need, and verify the validity, conditions, and transfer of any existing abstraction license.
Ensuring Safety and Compliance
Regular testing is recommended to ensure the safety of private water supplies. Maintenance of a private water supply involves treating the water to make it safe, which may include disinfection, filtration, and pH correction. Lenders may require confirmation that the water quality is fine, regularly tested, and that maintenance of the supply is acceptable.
In England, abstraction of water requires an abstraction license unless the amount taken is less than 20 cubic meters a day. The maintenance of water treatments for a private water supply may involve tasks such as cleaning UV filters and replacing bulbs, and replacing filters.
In summary, private water supplies require individual maintenance and testing with limited direct regulatory oversight; private group schemes and small private supplies serving multiple users face increasing calls for mandatory registration and monitoring for public health protection. Maintenance typically involves annual water testing, system inspection, and adherence to local requirements. Legal responsibilities vary but tend to expand with the number of people served. A good solicitor with experience in dealing with private water supplies is important for handling enquiries.
- For properties with private wells, it is crucial to perform annual testing for bacteria, nitrates, dissolved solids, and pH levels, as well as mechanical inspections by certified contractors to ensure cleanliness and equipment functionality.
- In rural or semi-rural communities, private group schemes that serve multiple households should be registered with authorities for safety inspections and quality monitoring, as this is currently not a mandatory requirement in all jurisdictions.
- Private water supplies serving public facilities, schools, nursing homes, sports clubs, and self-catering accommodations in Ireland lack mandatory registration and formal monitoring, posing health risks. Advocates for mandatory registration aim to close this regulatory gap.
- When buying a property with a private water supply, it is essential to commission a specialist survey, secure legal access for maintenance and repair if the water source or pipes are not on the land being purchased, and understand the costs and arrangements for shared supplies, if applicable. Additionally, one must ensure they have the legal authority to take the necessary water and verify the conditions and transfer of any existing abstraction license.
