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Drinking Water

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT QUALITY DOES DRINKING WATER NEED TO MEET?

Drinking water supplied by a water company must be wholesome as required by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1999. Information on your water supply is available from your water company, and general information is available from the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WATER QUALITY IN A BUILDING?

Generally, the building owner is responsible for all aspects of the plumbing system and its maintenance, which includes the part of the supply pipe from the boundary of the highway in which the public water main is situated. New plumbing systems, and alterations and additions to older systems, must meet the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, 1999.  Older systems must continue to meet the requirements, generally, of the water byelaws in force at the time of installation.

IS STORED WATER SAFE TO DRINK?

The quality of water taken from storage systems in properties can be impaired unless adequately protected.

WHAT IF I HAVE A STORAGE TANK?

The Drinking Water Inspectorate advise that water from storage can be safe to drink, providing the tank:-

  • is not too large and has good turnover
  • is made of approved materials (such as listed in the Water Fittings and Materials Directory, published by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme WRAS)
  • has a lid which excludes light and is tightly fitting and securely fastened, so that birds, vermin, and dirt cannot get in;
  • has vents, including overflow, that are screened so that insects and particles cannot get in;
  • is insulated and in a cool place so that, ideally, the temperature does not exceed 20°C;
  • is cleaned, and disinfected annually. Cleaning is very important in order to remove even inorganic debris which could provide a habitat for bacteria, including Legionella; and
  • is periodically sampled for TVC and Coliforms to ensure that bacterial levels are within the guidelines for wholesome water (depending on circumstances, between two and four times a year is normally advised).