Kennedy welcomes drinking water quality report

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy welcomed the Drinking Water Quality Report 2010, published by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, today.
~ Friday, 28 October 2011

The report found that there continues to be an improvement in overall compliance with samples taken from water treatment works, service reservoirs and consumers’ taps. The high levels reported in 2009 of 99.79% have further improved this reporting year with a new high level of compliance of 99.86% for all tests meeting the standard in 2010.

Speaking after the publication of the report, Danny Kennedy said: “The Drinking Water Inspectorate’s latest report confirms the high quality of our public drinking water supply and continuing improvement in meeting regulatory standards. The investment has led to upgrades of water treatment facilities across Northern Ireland. We need to maintain investment to keep standards high and make further improvements in our infrastructure.”

Not withstanding the high quality of water reported this year, the report says that vigilance is required, through good operational practice and management of the water supply chain, to ensure that safe, clean, drinking water continues to be provided by NI Water. The report also highlights the need for ongoing investment in infrastructure to ensure that overall compliance is maintained and quality improved further.

Commenting on this, the Minister said: “NI Water’s ongoing investment programme will see upgrades to its water treatment works and distribution systems, which will focus on continuing to improve drinking water quality. I welcome the improvement which this will bring to the Northern Ireland consumer.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate operates as a unit within the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), part of the Department of the Environment. The Inspectorate has been appointed by the Department for Regional Development to carry out its regulatory functions relating to the quality of public water supplies. It continues to act on behalf of the Department of the Environment in respect of private water supplies.
2. The Inspectorate’s role is to regulate drinking water quality for both public and private water supplies. The Inspectorate has an independent responsibility to assess and regulate compliance against the regulatory requirements.
3. Northern Ireland Water Ltd (NI Water), a government-owned company is responsible for the supply and distribution of public drinking water.
4. The report will be published as a PDF file on the Inspectorate’s website on the DOE website.
5. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Regional Development Press Office on 028 9054 0004. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.