NI Water Welcomes Continued Improvement in Water Quality

04 October 2010 13:35

NI Water welcomes the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s (DWI) 2009 Water Quality Report, which shows continued improvement in drinking water quality in all areas of Northern Ireland. The report covers the period from 1st January 2009 through to 31st December 2009 and provides an independent evaluation of drinking water quality in Northern Ireland.

NI Water’s Director of Asset Management, George Butler explains further:

“The report is a clear indication that our customers are benefiting from the substantial investment made by NI Water in our drinking water supply services.

“Since the new Water Quality Regulations came into force in 2004, the overall quality of water has steadily improved. In 2009, 99.79% (compared to 99.69% in 2008) of all tests carried out at water treatment works, service reservoirs and customers’ taps complied with European and national drinking water quality standards, and shows that we are delivering the best ever quality drinking water to our customers. We are confident we will see even further improvements in the 2010 results.”

“While we are very encouraged by these positive results, NI Water is committed to continuing with its programme of work for water treatment works and water mains distribution systems, to improve compliance and secure high quality drinking water across Northern Ireland. We have adopted the Water Industry Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) approach to management of our water supply from the source to our customer’s taps. A DWSP is the most effective way of ensuring that the water supply is safe for our customers and meets the regulatory requirements.

“By the end of this year, NI Water will have invested £122 million in water treatment, storage and mains distribution systems. In addition, a Water Mains Rehabilitation Project with a planned investment of £100 million over the next five years started in June 2010.

“We are aware that further challenges lie ahead and that investment must continue to maintain a high level of safe drinking water. We will continue to work closely with our economic and environmental regulators, and other stakeholders throughout this process. We are confident that through investment we will maintain the quality and security of the drinking water supply across Northern Ireland.”

NI Water sample and analyse drinking water 365 days of the year to actively check the quality of drinking water at our customer’s taps. In 2009, over 113,000 tests were carried out at water treatment works, customer taps and service reservoirs.

For written details of water quality or to obtain a copy of our yearly report on the quality of drinking water please phone our Waterline on 08457 440088, or visit our website at www.niwater.com.