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 Hartlepool Water plc 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.
Hartlepool Water continues to supply you with drinking water of a high quality. In 1999, 99.96% of more than 2,300 tests met the standards. This is above the overall figure for England and Wales of 99.82%.
The single failure, of the PAH standard, in 1999 was not likely to harm consumers' health and was regarded as trivial by the Inspectorate.
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 Hartlepool Water to further improve its performance.
2. Bacteria
No bacteria were detected in the water leaving water treatment works or service reservoirs or at consumers' taps during 1999.
3. Lead
Hartlepool Water took three samples for lead in 1999 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 here and from us free of charge from the address at the end of this document.
4. Iron and Manganese
These two parameters provide a good indication of the overall condition of the mains used to distribute drinking water through the region. No samples failed the standard for iron and manganese in 1999.
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. Hartlepool Water found that there was no risk at any of its sites.
6. Drinking Water Quality Incidents
No incidents were reported by the Company to the Inspectorate in 1999.
7. Determinations in 1999
Parameter
Total
Contravening PCV No % Coliforms 228 0 0.0 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 108 0 0.0 Manganese 108 0 0.0 Lead 3 0 0.0 PAH 14 1 7.1 Trihalomethanes 3 0 0.0 Total pesticides 3 0 0.0 Other pesticides 57 0 0.0 All others 262 0 0.0 Total 1094 1 0.1
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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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