The quality of the UK public water supply is the highest priority, which is why strict standards that are derived from the EU Drinking Water Directive, based on advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) are laid down nationally.
The standards are reviewed regularly and the water quality is closely monitored by independent Drinking Water Inspectorates (DWIs) in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The drinking water in the UK, no matter the source, must comply with standards laid down in the EU Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC). Every EU member state government must translate the requirements of the directive into local laws; all local laws must meet the requirements of EU legislation as an absolute minimum.
Drinking water regulations in the UK do follow the EU Directive, but there are various aspects that are stricter than those defined by the Directive and also some additional aspects, which reflect the UK’s dedication to providing drinking water of only the highest quality to its citizens. This includes Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations for England (2000); Scotland (2001); Wales (2001), and the Private Water Supplies Regulations in Northern Ireland.
The DWI reports on the drinking water quality compliance with the strict UK and European standards annually, and the latest figures for 2015 are:
- England and Wales – 99.96% (July 2015)
- Northern Ireland – 99.86% (August 2015)
- Scotland – 99.89% (July 2015)
The EU and UK water standards are based on advice from the World Health Organization (WHO) via WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, and the EU Drinking Water Directive mandates regular 5 yearly reviews by the European Commission.
Standards set down include maximum acceptable concentrations for various potential contaminants, as well as strict requirements for:
- Actions to be taken if a standard is exceeded
- Monitoring and Analysis
- Public reporting of data
- Use of treatment chemicals and materials in contact with water
All of the above ensures that the water quality in the UK is among the best in the world and safe to drink.
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