Pollution Control

Water

What areas of water quality do Environmental Health Officers look at?

Private water supplies

For those who extract their private water supply from boreholes.

There is only 1 private water supply source within Barking and Dagenham and this is used for industrial purposes. The supply is regularly sampled to ensure that it complies with the appropriate standards.

The legislation we use is made under the Water Industry Act 1991 and is called the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991.

This tells us what the standards of the water should be and how often we have to test the water depending upon its use.

Bathing waters

To include swimming pools at leisure centres, whirlpool tubs, hydrotherapy pools.

Operators of swimming and other leisure pools have a responsibility to ensure that their waters are safe. This is done as part of the regular maintenance regimes and should be at least daily.

Mains water

To include Manufacturers of foods and drinks as well as occasionally looking at domestic supply.

Water is regularly tested by the water company and submitted to the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the council. If you think that you have problems with your drinking water supply, contact Essex and Suffolk Water on 0845 782 0999.

In addition, the Drinking Water Inspectorate who are the national body for ensuring the quality of water, provide an annual publication titled 'How Good is Your Drinking Water'.