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Tap water, drinking water, public distribution water, quality<BR>Tap Water<BR><BR><BR><BR>Tap water, or water from distribution systems, comes from both surface and ground water. It is treated for compliance with about sixty microbiological, physico-chemical and radiological parameters, set by European regulations. The treatment is adapted to the quality of the resource and is designed to eliminate any microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites), chemical pollutants (pesticides, nitrates, etc.) and any excess mineral salts (fluoride, calcium, etc.).<BR><BR>In France, 67% of tap water, or water from distribution systems, comes from underground sources and 33% from surface water (rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs) - approximately 30,000 points of intake in all. If so authorised after quality inspections, water from underground intake points can sometimes be distributed without treatment. Surface water, on the other hand, is systematically treated in plants for the production of drinking water.<BR><BR>Tap water can have several uses: food, personal hygiene, household cleaning, laundry. It must therefore comply with regulatory quality requirements set by ministerial decree covering about sixty parameters, so that it may be drunk for an entire lifetime without harmful effects on health. Water treatment therefore aims to eliminate any pathogenic microorganisms and undesirable substances (chemical pollutants and an excess of mineral salts). It is also designed to maintain the microbiological and physicochemical quality standards of the water in the distribution systems up through to the consumer's tap.<BR><BR>Water quality is also monitored by companies producing and distributing water and by permanent health inspections on the part of regional health agencies (more than 310,000 samples taken in 2006(1)). <BR><BR>The regulatory provisions laying down the conditions for the marketing and use of water treatment products and processes and water contact materials also contribute to ensuring the safety of water.<BR><BR>Upstream, the obligation to protect water resources used for the production of drinking water also contributes to this objective. Protection zones are set up around intake points. More than half such points are protected by declarations of public utility. As a follow-on from the first national health environment plan, the second action plan, for 2009-2013 (PNSE 2), will provide effective protection for water resources and continue with the establishment of protection zones round the 500 most seriously threatened intake points between now and 2012.<BR> <BR>The role of ANSES<BR><BR>The Agency assesses the health risks related to the presence of microorganisms or chemical contaminants in water resources and drinking water. It also assesses the safety and efficacy of treatment processes and products and the safety to health of water contact materials in distribution systems. For example, it issues opinions on innovative treatment products and processes such as filter systems for water treatment plants, cleaning products for water towers and reservoirs, and disinfectants. It helps draw up regulations, standards and guidelines at national and European level. In the context of the revision of Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of drinking water, the Agency has been consulted three times by the French Directorate General for Health to give an opinion on proposals for revising water quality parameters and health inspection programmes. Furthermore, for each regulated substance, the Agency analyses cases where limits have been exceeded and observed over several years, possible sources of contamination, the possibilities of treating water, the other pathways for exposure for humans and all available toxicological and epidemiological data capable of characterising the hazard and, finally, the risk to consumers. It can also supply State services with a risk management tool for use when regulatory requirements for drinking water have been exceeded, within the dispensatory limits imposed by the regulations.<BR><BR><BR><BR>(1) L'eau potable en France 2005-2006 (2008) <BR>On the website of the French Ministry for Health, Youth, Sports and Associations<BR><BR><BR><BR>April 2011<BR>Opinions and/or reports related to this topic (mainly in french) :<BR><BR>> Opinions of the Scientific panel "WATER"<BR>Human food<BR>Home,Anses,News,Press room,Agenda,Our topics,Food,Animal health and nutrition,Environmental health,Occupational health,Plants,Opinions and publications,Last opinions and reports,Food opinions and reports,Animal health and nutrition opinions and reports,Environmental and occupational health opinions and reports,Plants opinions,Opinions and reports in English,Bulletins and periodicals,Other publications,Subscribe to Anses newsletter,Research and reference,Research program,Laboratories and reference activities, + ,Job opportunities,Public procurement contracts,Our websites,Partners,Extranet / ExpertNet,Kid's area,Legal notice,Contact, ,<A HREF='PN74I0.htm'>Tap water</A>
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Tap Water
Tap water, or water from distribution systems, comes from both surface and ground water. It is treated for compliance with about sixty microbiological, physico-chemical and radiological parameters, set by European regulations. The treatment is adapted to the quality of the resource and is designed to eliminate any microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites), chemical pollutants (pesticides, nitrates, etc.) and any excess mineral salts (fluoride, calcium, etc.).
In France, 67% of tap water, or water from distribution systems, comes from underground sources and 33% from surface water (rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs) - approximately 30,000 points of intake in all. If so authorised after quality inspections, water from underground intake points can sometimes be distributed without treatment. Surface water, on the other hand, is systematically treated in plants for the production of drinking water.
Tap water can have several uses: food, personal hygiene, household cleaning, laundry. It must therefore comply with regulatory quality requirements set by ministerial decree covering about sixty parameters, so that it may be drunk for an entire lifetime without harmful effects on health. Water treatment therefore aims to eliminate any pathogenic microorganisms and undesirable substances (chemical pollutants and an excess of mineral salts). It is also designed to maintain the microbiological and physicochemical quality standards of the water in the distribution systems up through to the consumer's tap.
Water quality is also monitored by companies producing and distributing water and by permanent health inspections on the part of regional health agencies (more than 310,000 samples taken in 2006(1)).
The regulatory provisions laying down the conditions for the marketing and use of water treatment products and processes and water contact materials also contribute to ensuring the safety of water.
Upstream, the obligation to protect water resources used for the production of drinking water also contributes to this objective. Protection zones are set up around intake points. More than half such points are protected by declarations of public utility. As a follow-on from the first national health environment plan, the second action plan, for 2009-2013 (PNSE 2), will provide effective protection for water resources and continue with the establishment of protection zones round the 500 most seriously threatened intake points between now and 2012.
The role of ANSES The Agency assesses the health risks related to the presence of microorganisms or chemical contaminants in water resources and drinking water. It also assesses the safety and efficacy of treatment processes and products and the safety to health of water contact materials in distribution systems. For example, it issues opinions on innovative treatment products and processes such as filter systems for water treatment plants, cleaning products for water towers and reservoirs, and disinfectants. It helps draw up regulations, standards and guidelines at national and European level. In the context of the revision of Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of drinking water, the Agency has been consulted three times by the French Directorate General for Health to give an opinion on proposals for revising water quality parameters and health inspection programmes. Furthermore, for each regulated substance, the Agency analyses cases where limits have been exceeded and observed over several years, possible sources of contamination, the possibilities of treating water, the other pathways for exposure for humans and all available toxicological and epidemiological data capable of characterising the hazard and, finally, the risk to consumers. It can also supply State services with a risk management tool for use when regulatory requirements for drinking water have been exceeded, within the dispensatory limits imposed by the regulations.
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