Drinking water compliance remains at a high level across NI

The safety and quality of drinking water in Northern Ireland remains high, according to a new report published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), which operates within the NI Environment Agency (NIEA), is responsible for regulating drinking water quality, and has today published its Annual Report for 2018.

Every year, NI Water undertakes thousands of tests to check that our tap water complies with all the stringent water quality standards set by European and national legislation. The results are based on samples taken from water treatment works, service reservoirs and consumers’ taps. The latest DWI report reveals that, in 2018, overall compliance was reported as 99.90% in Northern Ireland.

Speaking following the publication of the report, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Chief Executive David Small said: “The Drinking Water Inspectorate’s latest report indicates drinking water quality remains at a high level across Northern Ireland. This is reassuring for consumers and confirms the standard of our drinking water in meeting the strict regulatory standards.

“It is the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s role, as the independent regulator for drinking water, to provide assurance to consumers that NI Water continues to meet its regulatory responsibilities. Its aim is to safeguard the delivery of safe, clean drinking water for consumers, through the independent and effective regulation of drinking water quality.”

The report also stated, notwithstanding the high quality of water recorded this year, there is no room for complacency and NI Water still faces significant challenges. Good operational practice and risk management should be applied at every stage through catchment, treatment and distribution to reduce the impacts of water quality events and to ensure that NI Water continues to provide safe, clean, drinking water to the consumer.

It also highlighted the need for targeted ongoing investment in infrastructure to ensure that overall compliance is maintained or improved to ensure high quality drinking water is secured. NI Water should continue to ensure risks are appropriately managed within the water supply system and this should be supported with its investment programme targeting areas of highest risk.

A small percentage of water is also supplied from private water supplies in Northern Ireland. Extensive monitoring is undertaken of registered private water supplies by DWI with the assistance of local councils. The overall compliance figure of 99.11% is lower than that reported for the public water supply. The report provides a breakdown of what these supplies are used for and the issues experienced throughout 2018. The Department will continue to work with the owners in order to raise compliance at premises using a registered private water supply.

Download the 2018 DWI report.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is a business unit within the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

2. The Drinking Water Inspectorate has an independent responsibility to assess and regulate drinking water quality for both public and private water supplies against the regulatory requirements.

3. Northern Ireland Water Ltd (NI Water) is solely responsible for the supply and distribution of public drinking water.

4. There were 164 registered private water supplies monitored in Northern Ireland in 2018.

5. Download the 2018 DWI report.

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7. All media queries should be directed to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Press Office at pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or on 028 9052 4619. During out of office hours, please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.

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