Archive:
(for archive/historical purposes, this document has not been updated)Index of Contents:
- Introduction
- Bacteria
- Lead
- Iron and Manganese
- Cryptosporidium
- Drinking Water Quality Incidents
- Determinations in 1999
1. Introduction
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) checks that water companies supply water that is safe to drink when it reaches your home. This document summarises the results of our checks on Cambridge Water Company during 1999 and should be read in conjunction with DWI's "How Good is the Drinking Water?" leaflet which is available here and also from us free of charge from the address at the end of this document.
Cambridge Water continues to supply you with drinking water of a high quality. In 1999, 99.82% of more than 11,500 tests met the standards. This is the same as the overall figure for England and Wales of 99.82%.
None of the failures in 1999 were likely to harm consumers' health. We assessed each one and, where necessary, we have required Cambridge Water Company to take action to prevent further failures.
Although the 1999 results are good, we know that there are some matters of everyday concern to consumers. These are detailed below including the steps taken by Cambridge Water to further improve its performance.
2. Bacteria
Whenever bacteria are found in water samples Cambridge Water investigates immediately.
Low numbers of bacteria were found in a single sample from each of three treatment works during 1999, all subsequent samples taken during the year were satisfactory. One service reservoir did not meet the standards during 1999, and was taken out of service and remedial works undertaken. All the other service reservoirs met the required standards. All of the samples taken during the year from consumer's taps satisfied the required standards for bacteria. The bacteria found were not harmful to health.
3. Lead
Cambridge Water did not have any samples fail the lead standard during 1999.
Samples occasionally fail the standard for lead, even where additional treatment has been installed to reduce the amount of lead picked up by water from pipework. In many cases this is due to the consumer's water pipes being made of lead. In all cases the householder has been informed of things they can do to reduce lead levels at their tap. The Drinking Water Inspectorate advises consumers living in properties with lead pipes to seek advice from their water company. A DWI leaflet about lead in drinking water is also available here and from us free of charge from the address at the end of this document.
4. Iron and Manganese
There was a single failure for iron and no failures for manganese in 1999.
These two parameters provide a good indication of the overall condition of the mains used to distribute drinking water through the region. There is no need for the Company to undertake major refurbishment of the distribution system.
5. Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a tiny micro-organism that can sometimes cause a form of diarrhoea called cryptosporidiosis. There are a number of sources of Cryptosporidium other than water but due to new regulations water companies are now required by law to sample continuously and analyse daily for Cryptosporidium in the treated water at those sites which have a potential vulnerability. All water companies had to initially conduct risk assessments at their sites to identify if there was any significant risk of contamination. Cambridge Water identified that there was significant risk at two of its sites and it has taken both of the sites out of use until adequate treatment has been installed.
6. Drinking Water Quality Incidents
No events regarded as constituting incidents in which drinking water quality demonstrably deteriorated came to the attention of the Inspectorate in 1999.
7. Determinations in 1999
Parameter
Total
Contravening PCV No % Coliforms 874 7 0.8 Faecal coliforms 874 0 0.0 Colour 88 0 0.0 Turbidity 89 0 0.0 Odour 98 0 0.0 Taste 98 0 0.0 Hydrogen ion 90 0 0.0 Nitrate 163 0 0.0 Nitrite 166 0 0.0 Aluminium 88 0 0.0 Iron 178 1 0.6 Manganese 114 0 0.0 Lead 56 0 0.0 PAH 114 1 0.9 Trihalomethanes 34 0 0.0 Total pesticides 27 0 0.0 TCA 0 0 0.0 Other pesticides 555 0 0.0 Potassium 53 0 0.0 All others 1272 0 0.0 Total 5031 9 0.2
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Drinking Water Inspectorate,
Floor 2/A1, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE
Telephone : 020 7944 5956 - Facsimile : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi_enquiries@detr.gov.uk
Published 12 July 2000 / Updated 11 July 2001
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