Water quality
Drinking water quality
The standards for drinking water for England and Wales are set out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000. Most of the standards derive from an EC Directive on water quality, which member states are obliged to adopt. However, some UK standards are more stringent.
The standards relate to:
- Microbiological quality
- The levels of chemicals such as nitrates and pesticides
- The presence of metals such as lead
- The appearance and taste of water
The Directive sets out drinking water standards generally in line with the 1993 World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for drinking water quality. The most important change in standard required by the Directive is the reduction from 50mg/l to 10mg/l by 2013 in the maximum concentration of lead in drinking water. The change, in accordance with latest recommendations of WHO, is introduced primarily in order to protect infants, young children, and pregnant women from the neurotoxic effects caused by lead that are known to contribute to learning and behavioural problems.
