Water offences could cost dear
Water offences could cost dear
By Isabel Davies
A CRACKDOWN by water companies to make sure farms are not polluting the drinking water supply or wasting water because of leaky pipes could leave some farmers facing bills running into £s thousands.
Water companies are launching an inspection programme covering every farm in the country to make sure farmers are complying with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulation 1999.
The regulation, which applies to all business premises, requires farms to take steps to make sure potentially dangerous contaminates cannot be sucked back into the mains supply. They must also have measures in place to prevent wasting water.
It says taps with hose pipes attached must have some kind of backflow protection device attached and all underground pipes should be at a depth of 75cm (30in). It also requires farmers to lag all water pipes in roof spaces or any other unheated spaces so they are insulated for frost protection.
Paul Bailey of Oaklands Park Farm, Newdigate, Surrey said he had attended a local NFU meeting on the subject which was a "near riot".
"The practicalities of this are quite difficult in some circumstances," he said. "Its going to cause a lot of agro and I dont know if people know what is coming."
Youleite Parkes, who farms with her husband Pete at Kinnersley Manor Farm near Reigate in Surrey, said an inspection by Sutton and East Surrey Water on Fri, Apr 25 had led to them being asked to lag all their pipes on the farm.
"We have to lag every pipe within three months which is over the top. Farmers have got enough expense without having to go through this."
Steve Tuckwell, manager of the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme, admitted farmers could be faced with "substantial expenditure" but stressed water companies were trying to be flexible.
"They all understand it is a very difficult and sensitive time for agriculture and they are not trying to make things worse but they have a job to do," he said.
Farms were just one of a number of businesses, such as schools, dentists and doctors, that the companies had a legal duty to inspect, said Mr Tuckwell. *
"Agriculture is in the highest category of risk because of the likely presence of animal waste and the presence of chemicals," he said. "Farmers are not being singled out."
Alison Murphy, distribution engineer for Sutton and East Surrey Water, said inspectors were trying to help farmers with any problems and said work need not cost as much as feared.