Private water supplies
What is a private water supply?
A private water supply is any supply that is not provided by a mains water company such as United Utilities and is intended for human consumption, including domestic purposes such as washing and flushing toilets.
The supply may serve just one property or several, and the source of the supply may be a borehole, spring, well, watercourse, or rainwater collection. Water from private supplies can contain harmful or undesirable chemicals or microorganisms if the supply is not properly managed or the water is not adequately treated.
If you are solely served by a public mains supply provided by United Utilities this page is not applicable to you unless you operate a private distribution network.
Local authority responsibilities
Lancaster City Council is required to regulate private supplies under the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016 (as amended) and The Water Industry Act 1991.
For all private supplies used as part of a commercial or public activity, or serving more than one premises, the Council is required to carry out a risk assessment every 5 years and undertake periodic sampling and monitoring to ensure compliance with the statutory drinking water standards.
The Council can take enforcement action to ensure that the supply meets the statutory drinking water standards specified in the regulations, and has an obligation to do so where a supply constitutes a potential danger to human health.
Request sampling and risk assessment
Supplies to single domestic properties can be sampled and risk assessed upon request. If you would like to request sampling and/or risk assessment of your supply, please complete the form at www.lancaster.gov.uk/PWSRequest
Fees
Charges are normally payable for sampling and risk assessments of private water supplies.
Further information
General advice on private water supplies can be found at www.dwi.gov.uk
Last updated: 25 March 2025