Dairy farmers unlikely to be hit by charges

Small dairy farmers in West Dorset are unlikely to be affected by big increases in new charges for inspecting private water suppliers – despite claims made at a district council meeting in September.

For other businesses the fees could rise by between 50% and more than 350%.

More than 600 private water supplies are known about across the Dorset Councils partnership area – 547 in West Dorset, one in Weymouth and Portland and 59 in North Dorset. Despite concerns for small dairy farmers expressed by councillors at a meeting reported in September, West Dorset District Council say that few dairy farmers will be affected, unless they also run another commercial business on their farms which would bring them within the scope of the new fees.

Council leader Tony Alford was reported at the time as saying dairy farmers would not be affected but the district council says that some farmers were concerned about the charges.

The council has confirmed that dairy use is not taken into account when considering if a supply is deemed to be commercial or not.

Only if the dairy farmer also has, for example, a B&B, holiday let, or food production business would it fall into the large/commercial supply category.

The district council say that guidance it has confirms that a private water supply serving only a “milking parlour” and used solely for washing down purposes is excluded from the requirements of the new PWS Regulations, provided that the supply “cannot affect the wholesomeness of the finished food product”, or is not otherwise used for human consumption.

Therefore, unless the supply is also used for domestic consumption, a “dairy farm” will be excluded from these provisions. In the event that the supply is also used for domestic purposes, the “dairy farm” use is not taken into account when determining the categorisation of the supply.

The council has agreed a policy of fully charging for the inspection service which is now in force as a result of new regulations to protect public health.

It will mean more frequent testing and a commonly agreed standard which has to be met.

Council officers says it is difficult to assess what the likely costs will be in each case and, for most, this will depend on the frequency of testing and whether or not any resampling is needed after remedial works, as reported at the time.

For commercial and large supplies the expected laboratory fee alone will go up from £69.65 a year to a minimum of £511.60 – while small domestic charges for laboratory testing are expected to rise from £41 every five years to a minimum of £65.05.

Dairy use is not taken into account when considering if a supply is deemed to be commercial or not