Water quality
Follow the links below for information on water quality:
- Mains water supply
- Private water supplies
- Stored water supplies
- Bathing waters (swimming pools etc.)
- Recreational waters
Reporting water quality concerns
If you are concerned about a water quality issue or would like more information about water quality in Hackney, you can contact us using the details to the right.
Mains water supply (drinking water)
The main responsibility for ensuring drinking water in Hackney is clean lies with Thames Water (the water company which supplies it). The standards they must meet are set out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 as amended.
If you have a complaint about your water quality you can contact Thames Water. You can also contact the Drinking Water Inspectorate. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is the national body for ensuring the quality of water, and provides an annual report on drinking water quality.
Hackney Council may occasionally become involved in the testing of domestic mains water in addition to Thames Water.
Private water supplies
A private water supply is any supply which is not provided by a water company (such as Thames Water). The water may come from a spring, a well, a bore-hole or a stream.
Hackney Council is the responsible for carrying out risk assessments and monitoring the quality of private water supplies.
The legislation we use is made under the Water Industry Act 1991 and is called the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009. This tells us what the standards of the water should be and how often we have to test the water (depending upon its use).
If your home or business is served by a private water supply, and you would like more information or need to arrange a test, please contact us using the details at the top-right corner of this page.
The 2009 Regulations also require the council to carry out risk assessments of private distribution systems - the pipework that connects the mains supply to individual properties.
Stored water supplies
Hackney Council will investigate complaints about stored water supplies (drinking water supplied from tanks). We will also carry out a risk assessment on water supplied from tanks (this may include taking samples periodically).
Bathing waters / swimming pools etc.
The Council's Environmental Health Team are responsible for checking the quality of all swimming pools in the Borough, including those at leisure centres, private health clubs and hotels. We also look at hospital hydrotherapy pools, jacuzzis and paddling pools.
We will investigate complaints about the quality of pool water.
Recreational waters
The Environment Agency is responsible for protecting and maintaining water quality in rivers and other surface waters.
Useful links
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
- Drinking Water Inspectorate
- Environment Agency
Page updated: 31 Aug 2011
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