Andrea visited ALS, an accredited laboratory who work to the Drinking Water Testing Specification (DWTS) to test samples for clients such as Yorkshire Water.
Drinking water providers have a legal obligation to ensure the water we drink is fit for purpose and not a risk to public health. Andrea was interested to learn about the process providers of drinking water must go through to ensure the quality of the water when it reaches the home.
Water providers are required by regulators to test water at various stages of the water process. The stages include; testing water before it enters the treatment process, after treatment before it enters the water distribution system and when it comes out of the tap in customer’s homes.
It is at this stage the samples make their way to ALS, to undergo rigorous testing. Water will have to pass a series of standard tests for bacteria as well as a range for metal concentrations. The utilities will also have specific tests that they require for the area when they have identified possible contamination risks such as pesticides or weed killers that may find their way into the water system.
Andrea said:
“I was interested to see the great care that is taken in testing our water for bacteria such as E coli and Cryptosporidium.
“The team at ALS are meticulous about each stage of their tests even inviting local residents to drink test the water once all tests have been passed to make sure the taste is right.
“After the recent findings of E coli in the system by Yorkshire Water near Doncaster It was very reassuring to me that a company with 24hr fast track testing so that local utilities can respond quickly to emergencies, is in our area."