A recent report by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has shown that England and Wales has some of the cleanest water in the world. Testing parameters for drinking waters are vast and include pathogens such as cryptosporidium, which has been highlighted recently in an outbreak, coliform bacteria, pH, HAA's, and many more that can be found here.

The water supply network in England and Wales consists of :

• 3,974 surface water sources
• 1,981 groundwater sources
• 1,249 water treatment works
• 4,457 storage points
• 347,544 km water mains
• 52,113 private water supplies

In 2014 the water companies in England carried out over 3.8 million tests, either at the consumer’s tap or the point where water leaves a treatment works, treated water storage reservoir or tower. According to the 2014 report, 99.96% of these standards were passed in England and 99.98% in Wales.

ALS Environmental have played an important role in the analysis of the drinking water via our "centre of excellence"  in Wakefield, Yorkshire and MALDI-ToF confirmation centre in Coventry. These laboratories specialises in the analysis of all drinking waters to ISO 17025, DWTS and PWS 2009 standards. 

DWI 2014 Report for England

ALS Environmental will have another drinking water testing laboratory in the South of England in 2016. The laboratory will be our third fully UKAS & DWTS accredited drinking water testing facility, and adds further business resilience.

Water companies are required by law report any breaches, and act on recommendations made by the DWI inspector to prevent a recurrence. Legally enforceable notices may be put in place to ensure that a supply is improved. Hence timely and innovative methods to reporting results are critical. 

DWI 2014 Report for Wales

Leonard McComb, Operations Manager at our Wakefield laboratory, comments:

The laboratory in Wakefield is ALS Environmentals European centre of excellence for the analysis of drinking waters. In 2014 we became the first laboratory to offer fully accredited speciation of all eight Halo Acetic Acids which are critical in disinfection by-product monitoring.

Furthermore, ALS Environmental will be discussing the "Role of the Laboratory" in Private Water Supplies at the Borehole Users Conference in October 2015.

ALS Environmental offer an online web portal, a positive notification system, and various report formats such as a PCV breach limit template, to help clients meet their regulatory and statutory needs.

To discuss any private water supply analysis or request a quotation please liaise with your Customer Services Co-Ordinator or contact us on 02476 42 12 13.