Drinking water quality and testing

During 2010, Northern Ireland Water Ltd (NI Water) sampled drinking water across Northern Ireland to test for compliance with the standards in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 which came into operation 15 July 2009.

The regulations require that sampling programmes are in place at:

• Water treatment works
• Service reservoirs
• Water supply points
• At the consumers’ taps.
  

In 2010, NI Water carried out 104,493 key tests of which 99.86% passed (99.79% in 2009). This continued improvement has been gained through the completion of a variety of planned capital infrastructure projects to rectify the major deficiencies in water quality.

Compliance with the microbiological standards has significantly improved with an overall high level of microbiological compliance of 99.95% being achieved in 2010, compared to 99.87% in 2009.

To find out how each parameter complied with the regulatory standards, refer to the 2010 results(.PDF 756Kb).

Results for previous years are included in the following reports:

• Compliance with the regulatory standards - 2009 (.PDF 837Kb).
• Compliance with the regulatory standards - 2008 (.PDF 217Kb)
• Compliance with the regulatory standards - 2007 (.PDF 118Kb)
• Compliance with the regulatory standards - 2006 (.PDF 591Kb)
• Compliance with the regulatory standards - 2005