The report “Drinking Water Quality in Northern Ireland 2006,” found that there has been a significant improvement in compliance: 99.34% compliance at consumers’ taps in 2006 compared with 99.02% in 2005.
Speaking after the publication of the report, Mr Murphy said: “This report shows an improvement in the quality of our drinking water. The quality of drinking water is a key priority and has improved this year with new water treatment schemes becoming operational.”
The report provides details on how our drinking water measures up against the regulatory standards and acknowledges the need for ongoing work to improve compliance.
Whilst the report shows that the overall drinking water quality is good, compliance levels here compare with 99.44% in Scotland, and 99.96% in England and Wales.
Commenting on this, the Minister said: “While the standard of public drinking water here is good, and continues to get better, we recognise there is still room for improvement.
“Northern Ireland Water’s ongoing investment programme will sustain the safe provision of drinking water and is necessary to improve quality further.”
Notes to Editors:
The Drinking Water Inspectorate is a unit within Environment and Heritage Service, an agency of the Department of the Environment. The Drinking Water Inspectorate has been appointed by the Department for Regional Development to carry out its regulatory functions relating to the quality of public water supplies.
The Inspectorate’s role is to regulate drinking water quality in Northern Ireland for both public and private water supplies. The Inspectorate has an independent responsibility to assess and regulate compliance against the regulatory requirements.
During 2006, the period which is covered by this report, Water Service was an executive agency within the Department for Regional Development. Water Service (who since 1 April 2007 became Northern Ireland Water, a government owned company) is responsible for the supply and distribution of public drinking water in Northern Ireland.
The report will be published as a PDF file on the Inspectorate’s website: www.ehsni.gov.uk/water/drinkwater/annual_reports.htm
Media queries to: Don McAleer or Emma Flynn Davies, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, Tel: 028 9054 0887.
