Water transportation can affect the water quality. When the Water Industry was privatised, the newly formed Plc Water Companies were granted a licence by the Secretary of State for the Environment to "provide water which is fit for human consumption". Indeed the Water Industry Act 1991 makes it a criminal offence to supply water which is unfit for human consumption. Water Companies are therefore obliged to demonstrate "due diligence" at every stage of the provision of drinking water from its abstraction, through treatment and storage to delivery to the customer's tap.

The only way that the Water Companies can demonstrate that drinking water complies with the relevant standards required by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 is to collect and analyse samples. The sample collected must be truly representative of the larger volume of water it originates from. By not using the correct procedures unrepresentative or contaminated samples can be collected. Such actions can lead to the provision of water unfit for human consumption and possibly public health implications. The emphasis is on the supplier to demonstrate compliance with the Regulations.

Regulation 6 (1) and (2) of the water quality regulations relates to monitoring and checking of water. There must be an auditable trail to monitor and record data.

Regulation 6 (3) relates to sampling and monitoring from Tankers and mobile vessels such as Bowsers and static tanks. The regulations apply to all water undertakers.

The Water Undertakers (Information) Direction 2004 states that the definition of a water undertaker is a company, even if self employed, who supplies water to the public.

Wholesomeness is the term used by the DWI to define compliance. And the definition of wholesomeness' is detailed such as related to water that is supplied to the public for consumption, washing and food preparation'.

This means that we and you are under a similar obligation to demonstrate "due diligence" in everything that we do connected with the provision of an alternative supply of water to our customers.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-drink/index_en.html

In respect of private water supplies /suppliers, if you are providing water and your water supply is untreated you have a legal duty to inform anybody using that water of this fact, even though you may have used the water supply for many years.

We can provide equipment that will treat a range of water sources to provide a safe supply of drinking water, conforming to the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991.This new direction provides a sound basis for both the consumers throughout the EU and the suppliers of drinking water.