Water Hygiene Information

Tips on Water Hygiene.
The water supplied to your home by the water company must meet the standards set in the Water Supply (Water Quality ) Regulations 2000.
The standards are strict and the water company is monitored by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) who carry out regular tests to ensure that the water quality meets the required standards. The areas covered are:-

• Bacteria.
• Chemicals such as Nitrates and Pesticides.
• Metals such as lead.
• The way water looks and tastes.

Things we do in the home can affect the water quality and even encourage bacteria growth. Here are some tips to help prevent bacterial growth and contamination of the water supply.

Hot and Cold Water System.

If you have a domestic hot water cylinder in your home the thermostat is set at 60ºC, do not reduce this setting or the setting of your boiler thermostat, as bacteria can multiply at lower temperatures. If you have a combination boiler or multi-point water heater do not reduce the hot water thermostat setting. If you are away from home for long periods (for example holidays or hospital stays) the water in your system can deteriorate if unused. When you return home, heat up your system to the normal temperature, open each tap and run for at least 5 minutes.

Cold taps should be flushed until the water runs cold. When flushing taps and other outlets, open slowly and take care not to cause splashing or release of spray droplets to the atmosphere

Tap Hygiene.
Tap spouts on your bath, basin and sink may become contaminated from external sources. To be safe sterilise tap spouts by wiping with a dilute bleach solution, if the tap is heavily scaled or contaminated this can be dislodged using a nylon brush.

Showers.
If you have a shower fitted with a flexible hose make sure that a hose retaining ring is fitted to prevent the shower head falling into your bath water. Do not use rubber push-on shower hoses on your bath taps. If your water company turn off the water supply in an emergency, the contents of your bath may be siphoned back into the towns mains causing contamination.

Clean your shower head regularly using a nylon brush then soaking in a bleach solution. Following a holiday or extended period where the shower is not used, it is essential that the shower head be lowered into a bucket or plastic bag, and the shower run to the operating temperature, whilst taking care not to make or release spray droplets to the atmosphere

Other Fittings and Appliances.
If you have an outside tap fitted the installation must comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and incorporate a Backflow Prevention Device, usually a double check valve.
Any appliances you buy which are connected to the water supply must comply with the Water Regulations. All domestic appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers comply to the appropriate standards but many commercial appliances do not and are not suitable for home use.

Water Filters.
Both jug and fixed types must be cleaned and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Use Water Wisely.
Lifestyle choices, population growth and climate change are placing increasing demands on our water supplies. It is important that we do not take this precious resource for granted and that we all use water wisely.

Water Saving Tips.

In the Kitchen:

• Fill the kettle with only enough water for your needs.
• Use a plug in the sink or use a bowl to wash dishes.
• Use your washing machine and dishwasher only when you have a full load, alternatively if your machine has a half load button, use this whenever you can.
• Hand washing woollen items does the job just as well as machine washing and saves several litres of water.
• Cooling water in the fridge means you don’t have to run the tap for ages to get a drink of cold water and any smell of chlorine also disappears.
• Rinse vegetables in a bowl rather than running water, you can save the water to water your plants.

In the Bathroom.

• The toilet is one of the largest users of water in the home, avoid flushing unnecessarily, and if you have a dual flush control don’t forget to use it.
• Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with a glass of water.
• Using a shower this instead of taking a bath will use around one third of the water.
• Use the plug in the washbasin rather than leaving the tap running whilst shaving.

Outdoors.

• A water butt in your garden can collect rainwater that can be used on plants and lawns saving litres of water.
• Rather than washing your car with a hose pipe use a bucket and sponge and rinse with a watering can.

General.

• A dripping tap can waste up to 140 litres of water a week.
• Look out for water tank and toilet overflows running outside (the overflows on modern toilets run into the bowl rather than outside) Report any problems as soon as possible.
• Know where your main stop tap is and make sure it works so that in case of a leak you can isolate the supply to prevent waste of water and damage to your property.

Immersion heater safety alert!

If your water is heated by an immersion heater, look out for warning signs that there may be a problem.

• Excessively hot water coming out of the hot water taps.
• Excessive noise or ‘burbling’ from the hot water cylinder.
• Hot water coming out of certain cold water taps.
• Steam/moisture in the roof space.

If you have any concerns regarding any of the above please call the contact centre on 0800 694 0165.

Please note that the supply of hot and cold water is your own responsibility. Your water supplier will be Anglian Water or Cambridge Water, depending on where you live.

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Last modified 13/04/12