Monitoring potable water supplies

It is important for any industrial site to monitor their potable water supplies to prevent pollution and to comply with the Water Industry Act 1991. The company should focus upon the following areas:

• Gain site plans and find all water pipes, supply valves and stopcocks relevant to the site
• Regularly inspect water pipes etc on site and ensure that any leaking taps and pipes are repaired quickly
• Regulalry monitor the company's position with regards to any permit that may be held to abstract water from boreholes and wells and that it is not being breached
• Monitor water consumption patterns on site
• Undertake periodic sampling and analysis of water supplies on site. This is most prevalent should steam-raising boilers be utilised, whereby chemicals to limit corrosion or biocides should be added.

Some company's have more specific requirements imposed upon them to ensure that their potable water is compliant with specific standards, coupled with the legislation for industrial water quality given in British Standards or the British, US or European Pharmacopoeia. Table n below gives this list