What do we do ?
Contents
- Who are the Drinking Water Inspectorate ?
- What do the Drinking Water Inspectorate do?
- What happens in an inspection?
- What are the standards?
- What about the failures to meet the standards?
- What else do the Drinking Water Inspectorate do?
- More information on drinking water quality
Who are the Drinking Water Inspectorate ?
We are a team of professionals with a wide range of experience and expert knowledge in all aspects of water supply. This includes chemistry, microbiology and engineering. On health matters, we get advice from the Government's Chief Medical Officer.
What do the Drinking Water Inspectorate do?
Our main job is to check that the water companies in England and Wales supply water that is safe to drink and meets the standards set in the Water Quality Regulations. Inspectors carry out what we call technical audits of each water company. These have two main parts:
- an annual assessment of the quality of drinking water supplied by the companies
- inspections of the individual companies
The assessment of water quality is based on information received regularly from the water companies. This information includes the results of the millions of tests made each year to see if the water meets the standards. We check the test results against the standards. We also carry out inspections to be sure that the results are reliable and give a true picture of the quality of the water supplied.
What happens in an inspection ?
Inspections may cover many things such as checks that:
- sampling procedures are satisfactory
- samples are tested by trained staff using accurate methods
- the right numbers of tests are carried out
- correct results are entered in the public record
- appropriate water treatment processes are used
- treatment processes and the water distribution system are operated and maintained satisfactorily
- consumer complaints are handled properly
If we find something wrong, we take action to ensure that the company puts things right.
What are the standards?
The Government has set legal standards for drinking water in the Water Quality Regulations. Most of these come directly from an obligatory European Community Directive but some UK standards are more stringent. Most standards are based on World Health Organisation guidelines. The standards generally include wide safety margins.
There are standards for:
- bacteria
- chemicals such as nitrate and pesticides
- metals such as lead
- the way water looks and how it tastes
What about the failures to meet the standards?
We assess each failure: some are trivial or unlikely to happen again, so no further action is needed. Other failures will be put right by improvements already being carried out by water companies - these involve treatment works and distribution systems and altogether cost many hundreds of millions of pounds. Any remaining failures will be addressed by us requiring water companies to carry out further improvements quickly.
The Inspectorate has a duty to require water companies to take any necessary action. We check that improvements are being completed on time.
What else do the Drinking Water Inspectorate do?
We also investigate complaints from consumers and incidents which affect or could affect drinking water quality. Our investigations of incidents can lead to water companies being prosecuted. We have another free leaflet about consumer complaints, investigating incidents and prosecutions called "Problems with your drinking water".
Where can I get more information about drinking water quality?
If you would like more information about drinking water quality you can get it from:
Your water company’s public record
You can see the record at one of the company’s offices. Customer services staff will explain the result of tests and tell you what is being done to rectify any failures. You are entitled to a free copy of the record for the area in which you live. Alternatively, you can write to the company for details.
Your local authority
Water companies are required to give local authorities information about the quality of water supply in their areas.
Our Annual Reports
These are lengthy reports containing a great deal of detailed information about the quality of drinking water in England and Wales. They can be bought from the Stationary Office. You may be able to see a copy at a main library or at your water company’s offices. We also publish a free leaflet each year giving the results of the water company’s monitoring.
Other Leaflets
- How Good is the Drinking Water ?
- Chlorine, Smell, Taste
- Discoloured Water
- Lead in Drink Water
- Private Water Supplies
- Problems with your Drinking Water
- Water Hardness
- DWI Summary Reports on each water company
- Tap Water, where does it come from and how is it made safe to drink?
- Using Lead-free solder for drinking water fittings
Printed versions of the above leaflets are available from us free of charge
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Telephone : 020 7944 5956 - Facsimile : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi.enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Updated 10 July 2002
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