The United Kingdom drinking water standards provide guidelines regarding the desired water properties to protect human health. The drinking water standards were set following the Drinking Water Directive 1998 and other national standards. It is currently regulated under Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016. The regulations provide directions on monitoring water supplies, investigations and formulation of remedial actions, water treatment, the role of local authorities regarding water quality, enforcement and compliance. It lays the foundation for applying and enforcing drinking water standards in the United Kingdom.
Drinking water standards provide parameters and requirements on chemicals, micro-organisms, metals, and how water tastes and looks. They include elements and properties such as cyanide, aluminium, chloride, arsenic, colour, alkalinity, odour, taste, calcium, enterococci, and Escherichia coli. These elements’ maximum concentrations and safety margins are well-defined to ensure compliance. The look and taste of water enforce aesthetics to ensure it is acceptable and pleasing to consumers. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is responsible for enforcing drinking water standards. The Inspectorate ensures the suppliers offer consumers clean and safe drinking water. It also provides scientific and technical recommendations to local authorities regulating private water supplies.
Compliance is assessed by sampling water supply chains and conducting tests to determine if the required standards are met. The parameters used include microbiology, chemicals, pesticides, and indicator parameters. The samples are from consumer taps, service reservoirs, and water supply works/chains. If the desired standards are not met, the source of contamination is identified, and necessary action is taken. Therefore, human health is protected by ensuring that consumers are protected from harm by providing clean and safe drinking water.
Related Information on UK environmental standards for water
References
Drinking-Water Inspectorate (2021). Drinking water quality in England: A triennial report 2017-2019. Crown.
Drinking-Water Inspectorate (n.d). What are the drinking water standards? Retrieved from https://cdn.dwi.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/23151708/standards-V3.pdf
