Archive:
(for archive/historical purposes, this document has not been updated)Index of Contents:
- Introduction
- Bacteria
- Pesticides
- Lead
- Iron and Manganese
- Cryptosporidium
- Drinking Water Quality Incidents
- Determinations in 1998
1. Introduction
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) checks that water companies supply water that is safe to drink when it reaches your home. This leaflet summarises the results of our checks on Hartlepool Water plc during 1998. and should be read in conjunction with DWI's "How Good is the Drinking Water ?" leaflet which is available from us free of charge.
Hartlepool Water continues to supply you with drinking water of a high quality. In 1998, 99.79% of more than 2,300 tests met the standards. This is similar to the overall figure for England and Wales of 99.78%.
None of the failures in 1998 were likely to harm consumers’ health. We assessed each one and, where necessary, we have required Hartlepool Water to take action to prevent further failures.
Although the 1998 results are good, we know that there are some matters of everyday concern to consumers. These are detailed below including the steps taken by Hartlepool Water to improve its performance.
2. Bacteria
Whenever bacteria are found in water samples Hartlepool Water investigates immediately.
No bacteria were detected in the water leaving water treatment works or service reservoirs during 1998. Three out of over 200 tests at consumers’ taps contained bacteria. These failures may be due to the condition of the tap and not the water itself.
3. Pesticides
Hartlepool Water carried out more than 50 tests for individual pesticides during 1998 and all met the stringent standard.
4. Lead
Hartlepool Water took three samples for lead in 1998 and all met the standard. 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 from us free of charge.
5. Iron and Manganese and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
These three parameters provide a good indication of the overall condition of the mains used to distribute drinking water through the region.
Two samples failed the standard for iron in 1998 but were regarded by the Inspectorate as not significant. No samples failed the standards for manganese and PAH.
6. Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a tiny micro-organism which can sometimes cause a form of diarrhoea called cryptosporidiosis. No instances were reported to the Inspectorate of the detection of Cryptosporidium in water leaving Hartlepool Water’s water treatment works during 1998.
Water companies will shortly be required to sample continuously and analyse daily for Cryptosporidium in the treated water at their their most vulnerable sites. It will be an offence if they fail to meet a new treatment standard.
7. Drinking Water Quality Incidents
No incidents were reported by the Company to the Inspectorate in 1998.
8. Determinations in 1998
Parameter
Total
Contravening PCV No % Coliforms 228 3 1.3 Faecal coliforms 228 0 0.0 Colour 12 0 0.0 Turbidity 12 0 0.0 Odour 4 0 0.0 Taste 4 0 0.0 Hydrogen ion 12 0 0.0 Nitrate 12 0 0.0 Nitrite 12 0 0.0 Aluminium 12 0 0.0 Iron 114 2 1.8 Manganese 114 0 0.0 Lead 3 0 0.0 PAH 14 0 0.0 Trihalomethanes 3 0 0.0 Total pesticides 3 0 0.0 Other pesticides 57 0 0.0 All others 280 0 0.0 Total
1124
5
0.4
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Drinking Water Inspectorate,
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Telephone : 020 7944 5956 - Facsimile : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi_enquiries@detr.gov.uk
Updated 11 July 2001
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