Archive:
(for archive/historical purposes, these documents have 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 Tendring Hundred Water Services Limited 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.
Tendring Hundred Water continues to supply you with drinking water of a high quality. In 1999, 99.94% of more than 4,700 tests met the standards. This is above 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 Tendring Hundred Water 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 Tendring Hundred Water to further improve its performance.
2. Bacteria
Whenever bacteria are found in water samples Tendring Hundred Water investigates immediately. No bacteria were detected in water leaving treatment works or service reservoirs during 1999. Bacteria were detected in two (0.5%) samples from consumers' taps. The bacteria found were not harmful to consumers' health. These detections could be due to the condition of the taps and not the water itself.
3. Lead
No samples failed the lead standard in 1999. 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 standards for iron and manganese in 1999 and this reflects the programme of work being carried out by Tendring Hundred Water to renovate its distribution system. The programme of improvement is ongoing, with Tendring Hundred Water being required to renovate more than 70km of mains by 2004.
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. Tendring Hundred Water identified that there was no significant risk at either of its sites.
6. Drinking Water Quality Incidents
One incident in which drinking water quality deteriorated was notified to the Inspectorate during 1999. In June, low levels of bacteria were detected in water in supply in Little Oakley following the repair of a burst main. Advice to boil water was issued to approximately 50 properties. Normal water quality was soon restored.
7. Determinations in 1999
Parameter
Total
Contravening PCV No % Coliforms 396 2 0.5 Faecal coliforms 396 1 0.3 Colour 44 0 0.0 Turbidity 44 0 0.0 Odour 44 0 0.0 Taste 44 0 0.0 Hydrogen ion 44 0 0.0 Nitrate 44 0 0.0 Nitrite 44 0 0.0 Aluminium 42 0 0.0 Iron 164 0 0.0 Manganese 44 0 0.0 Lead 24 0 0.0 PAH 20 0 0.0 Trihalomethanes 41 0 0.0 Total pesticides 26 0 0.0 Other pesticides 350 0 0.0 All others 844 0 0.0 Total 2655 3 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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