If you have a private water supply, then it is essential that you are up to date with the drinking water regulations UK businesses must abide by. The UK has very high drinking water standards, and water must be ‘wholesome’ to be acceptable. To ensure your business is compliant and does not compromise the health of staff, customers and visitors, it is vital to understand what regulations govern drinking water. Read on to find out more.
The Dangers
If private water supplies are not properly protected and treated, then they can pose a serious threat to health. Water can become contaminated with protozoa, bacteria, parasites and viruses, which can cause illness and sometimes death in some vulnerable people. Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell if your water is contaminated, as the colour, taste and smell may not change.
The most common cause of water contamination is animal droppings. Therefore, water supplies from agricultural land may be at most risk. To reduce this risk, slurry should not be spread within 50 metres of a water source, and the location of septic tanks should be checked.
Water Quality Testing
The Drinking Water Inspectorate monitors private water supplies to commercial premises where water is used for drinking. They can offer advice to the owners of private water supplies. If your private water supply is registered with the DWI, it will be tested with the results provided to the user. For single domestic dwellings, contact the environmental health department of your council, who can take a sample.
Ensuring You Have Suitable Equipment
It is essential to ensure you have suitable equipment to maintain drinking water supply regulations. Water tanks connected to public water supplies must comply with the Water Supply Regulations 1999. This means that Fluid Category 5 Break Tanks must be used. This category is for fluid that can pose a serious health risk, due to the concentration of radioactive substances, pathogenic organisms, or any fluid which contains human or animal waste. Fluid category 5 break tanks are DWI approved and meet the drinking water regulations.
If your business is looking for water tanks, bowsers or associated items, Enduramaxx can help. We manufacture our products in house and are proud to have a Made in Britain badge. For more information, contact us at Enduramaxx today.
