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Water pollution is the contamination of streams, lakes, underground water or the sea by substances harmful to living things. Pollutants can be chemical, biological or physical materials that degrade water quality and result from many human activities.

Private water supplies

The council is responsible for testing the quality of private water supplies. We hold a register of all private water supplies in the district and we carry out regular checks to make sure everything is fit for human consumption.

Find out more about private water supplies

The Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is responsible for maintaining or improving the quality of fresh, marine, surface and underground water in England and Wales. Its aim is to prevent or reduce the risk of water pollution wherever possible and to ensure that pollution that might affect ecosystems or people is cleaned up.

Most water pollution incidents need to be reported to the Environment Agency although we also have responsibility for dealing with certain types of water pollution such as discharges from cess pools or septic tanks that cause a risk to health or a nuisance.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (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.