Private Water Supply

MinnieMouseEars

Our rental property is supplied by a private water supply and since the start of the year we have regularly had foul smelling water (smells like a dead animal) coming out of our taps. It makes it unpleasant to shower due to the smell, but more importantly we are not sure whether it is safe to drink. We have been filling up water bottles at friends and family's houses since then and just getting on with it. It's not all the time but for around 24-48 hours every month or two. We spoke to landlord after the second incident and they said that they also did not know what was causing the smell. Then, I think it was around April this year we received a note on our door not to drink the water as they had found that pest control (that they had employed) had dropped rat poison into the supply. My child was only around 15 months old at the time. Luckily we were still using bottled water for all cooking and drinking purposes.

I know that I should have dealt with this before now but I didn't want to rock the boat and I didn't realise how seriously the council takes private water supplies. The landlord doesn't seem bothered about it (they are supplied by it too so are also affected) but I don't really know what to do next. We are moving out very soon so it won't effect us much longer, but I know that they will be getting new tenants in, who probably won't be informed of the issues until they arise next.

Does anyone have any advice? Should I contact environmental health?

moneyistooshorttomention

I would in your position.

HampshireH

Yes absolutely call them and get it tested

Davesnave

MinnieMouseEars wrote: »

Does anyone have any advice? Should I contact environmental health?

Not yet.


You want a smooth transition to whereever you're going next.


Take a sample on your last day there, and when your deposit's sorted, then contact the EHO for your area.

xylophone

this year we received a note on our door not to drink the water as they had found that pest control (that they had employed) had dropped rat poison into the supply.

And you didn't immediately contact Environmental Health??

MinnieMouseEars

xylophone wrote: »

[/B]

And you didn't immediately contact Environmental Health??

I didn't. I absolutely should have but they completely minimised it and we were already using water from another source at this point for cooking and drinking so actually no harm was done.

xylophone

and we were already using water from another source at this point for cooking and drinking

It just astonishes me that you would actually put up with this.

so actually no harm was done.

How do you know that there was no wider environmental damage?

I'd say it's a civic duty to refer this to EH.

MinnieMouseEars

xylophone wrote: »

It just astonishes me that you would actually put up with this.



How do you know that there was no wider environmental damage?

I'd say it's a civic duty to refer this to EH.

To be honest, this is the conclusion that I have come to now and feel that even if it isn't affecting us, we should inform someone so that they can take action as they see fit.

The reason we put up with it is because we found the rental through one of the landlord's family members and we didn't want cause friction with them. I still don't but I'm hoping they will understand our position on this.

G_M

Inform EH.


I had a similar problem as a stuudent years ago. Lived in the gatehouse of a large country estate and we kept getting ill.


Eventualy we suspected the water and had it tested. Turned out the septic tank outflow was higher up the hill than the water source......


We had to move out and the landowner had an expensive job doing whatever EH made him do....

MinnieMouseEars

Thanks G_M, it's always nice to hear from someone who has first hand experience. I've made contact with EH and I am just waiting for someone to call me back.