Compliance
You can view current and historical reports on the compliance with the drinking water quality standards using the link below:-
The following Drinking Water Quality tables provide detail of individual water supply zones where full compliance with the regulatory standards has not been met.
Enforcement Policy
If Northern Ireland Water fails to meet the required standards, the DWI may take enforcement action as detailed in the Environment, Marine and Fisheries Group Enforcement Policy:-
You can view historical and current Enforcement Action taken against NI Water using the links below. These may be in the form of:
- Undertakings, agreed between NI Water and the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water, following enforcement action taken under Section 31(3)(a) of The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
- Notices requiring remedial action to be completed by a specified date, issued under The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017.
- Enforcement notices issued or closed in 2021
- Enforcement notices issued or closed in 2020
- Enforcement notices issued or closed in 2019
- Enforcement notices issued or closed in 2018
- Enforcement notices issued or closed in 2017
- Enforcement notices issued or closed in 2016
- Enforcement notices issued or closed in 2015
- Enforcement notices issued or closed in 2014
Prosecutions are taken forward in the name of the Chief Inspector where there is reliable evidence that an offence has been committed, where the company does not have a defence that it took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence, and when such a prosecution is regarded as being in the public interest by the Public Prosecution Service. The offences for which the Inspectorate can initiate proceedings are criminal offences.
Prosecutions taken forward by the Public Prosecution Service on behalf of the Drinking Water Inspectorate can be viewed here.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate may also issue Warning Letters where it is satisfied that a regulatory breach has occurred. The company is issued with a warning that any further repeat events of this nature could result in further sanctions, including enforcement or prosecution. Warning letters issued by the Drinking Water Inspectorate can be viewed here.
Legislation
The following legislation implements the requirements set out in the European Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC), the amending Directive (EU) 2015/1787 which revised the monitoring and analysis requirements in Annex II and Annex III of Directive (98/83/EC), and Directive 2013/51/Euratom in respect of public drinking water supplies:
The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017
DWI also has regulatory responsibilities for drinking water quality supplied, via a domestic distribution, to the public in premises such as schools, hospitals and restaurants under:
Guidance on the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (NI) 2017
Other Guidance
- Guidance for Businesses Re-Opening after Temporary Closure
- The contribution of Drinking Water Quality Regulations to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Northern Ireland
- Drinking Water and Health: a guide for public and environmental health professionals and for those in the water industry in Northern Ireland
- Looking after Water in your Home (.pdf 4.82MB)
- Guidance on the Notification of Events
- Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality
- Water Safety in Buildings
- WaterSafe
- Guidance on implementing Regulation 30 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 - Risk Assessments
- Guidance and Information Requirements on Long Term Planning for Drinking Water Supplies in PC21