FAQ's and Information Leaflets
Drinking Water from Storage Tanks
Is stored water safe to drink?
The quality of water taken from storage system in properties can be impaired unless adequately protected (see below "What if I do have a storage tank?"). Modern practice is that drinking water in the home is supplied directly from mains - and not from storage.
That does not mean that stored water is harmful - but it must not be taken for granted!
Do I have a water storage tank?
In homes with unvented heating systems, both hot and cold taps deliver water direct from supply at the pressure in the water company’s main. They do not have a storage tank in the loft, and all cold tap water should be of drinking water quality, as supplied by the water company. In other houses, the kitchen cold tap supplies water directly from the mains, and in many the bathroom basin cold tap does too. Generally, water from taps direct from supply is at higher pressure than from taps supplied from storage.
If you are not sure whether a tap delivers water direct from supply, your water company or a plumber could advise you further. A quick check plumbers make is to compare stored and directly-supplied water pressures by placing his/her thumb over the tap outlet to "feel" the water pressure.
What if I do have a storage tank?
Water from storage can be safe to drink, providing the cistern:
- is not too large, so that standing water is limited (25 litres (5 gallons) per home is the guideline);
- is flushed to waste should the water not have been used recently, depending on circumstances such as warmth and number of days unused;
- is made of approved materials (such as listed in the Water Fittings and Materials Directory, published by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) www.wras.co.uk; telephone : 01495 248454. Further Information on services provided by WRAS can be found below.
- has a lid which excludes light and is tightly fitting and securely fastened, so that birds, vermin, and dirt cannot get in;
- has vents, including overflow, that are screened so that insects and particles cannot get in;
- is insulated and in a cool place so that, ideally, the temperature does not exceed 20° C;
- is cleaned, and disinfected annually as recommended. Cleaning is very important in order to remove even inorganic debris which could provide a habitat for bacteria, including legionella; and
- is periodically sampled to ensure that too many bacteria are not present (depending on circumstances, between two and four times a year is normally advised).
However, water quality in storage can deteriorate, especially, when;
- there is no lid on the storage tank;
- water is warm;
- water has been in storage for too long; and/or
- the cistern is made or lined by material which is unsuitable.
To avoid the deterioration of the water quality in your storage tank, the above advice should be noted. For further advice, please see the ‘Further Information’ section below.
Water supplied by your water company
Drinking water supplied by a water company must be wholesome as required by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations. Information on your water supply is available from your water company, and general information is available from the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
When water arrives at your property
Generally, the building owner is responsible for all aspects of the plumbing system and its maintenance, which includes the part of the supply pipe from the boundary of the highway in which the public water main is situated. New plumbing systems, and alterations and additions to older systems, must meet the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, 1999. Older systems must continue to meet the requirements, generally, of the water byelaws in force at the time of installation.
Guidance and information on plumbing systems is available from:
- your water company, which has a statutory duty to enforce the Regulations; and,
- the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme - www.wras.co.uk; telephone : 01495 248454
If you have a landlord and wish to know more
A landlord could be expected to advise tenants on whether the drinking water is from storage, what inspection and maintenance has been carried out on the drinking water cistern, and what water quality samples have been taken and their analytical results. A landlord, or managing party, could be expected to be able to supply records of inspections and sampling results. You may contact your letting agent for further advice.
Buildings to which the public has access
Water companies have a duty to supply wholesome water to all consumers, including those in public buildings. However, within public buildings it is often not possible to determine whether taps are connected to the supply main or to storage tanks and it is possible that the microbiological quality of the water in storage may deteriorate. Therefore, unless the tap is clearly labelled as suitable for drinking, it should not be assumed that the water from any tap is safe to drink.
The 1998 Drinking Water Directive contained new provisions to ensure that the water supply within public buildings remains wholesome and is not adversely affected by the domestic plumbing system. The Government will be undertaking consultation on this issue before introducing new regulations to meet these requirements.
Further information
Your water company
Water companies are obliged to provide information on water quality, and may advise consumers on the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations for consumers' own installations.
Generally, the Customer Services department gives information on a consumer's installation, and on Approved Plumbers.
Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS)
WRAS provides authoritative information on all aspects of the Water Fittings Regulations affecting consumers' water installations, including approved fittings and materials, on behalf of all UK water companies.
WRAS publishes an advisory book incorporating the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations; the DETR Guidance; and an authoritative commentary. Its title is the "Water Regulations Guide", price £18.45, including postage and packing. To obtain a copy, contact WRAS by telephone (01495 248454), or through its website: www.wras.co.uk.
WRAS can give information on the Water Industry Approved Plumber Schemes.
DEFRA information about The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, 1999
Purpose:The Regulations apply to water installations in consumers'
premises.
The purpose of the Regulations is to conserve and to prevent contamination of water
supplied by water companies.
Obtaining the Regulations:The full text of Water Fittings Regulations is available from the Stationery Office website - www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/stat.htm then go to Statutory Instruments for 1999, numbers 1148 and 1506 or purchased direct from Stationery Office (tel: 0870 600 5522, price: £4).
DEFRA Guidance on the Regulations:The Regulations are supported by DEFRA approved guidance, which is available in the book published by WRAS (above) and on the Internet under: www.defra.gov.uk.
Enquiries on the Regulations:The water companies have a statutory duty to enforce the Regulations. General enquiries on the Regulations should therefore be to the water company (generally to the Customer Services Department) or, for non-specific advice, to WRAS (telephone 01495 248454; e-mail: info@wras.co.uk). WRAS works on behalf of all the UK water companies. WRAS publishes a directory of approved fittings and materials, including WCs and appliances - i.e. the Water Fittings and Materials Directory (i.e. WFMD). The WRAS website includes a variety of useful information.
DWI
DWI regulates the quality of water supplied to drinking water taps. Additionally, DWI aims to meet consumer requirements on information on drinking water quality.
E-mail or contact the enquiries line on 020 7270 3370 for main information...
