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Every day, millions of French people do one simple thing: turn on the tap. But how many wonder about the quality of the water they drink? Drinking water, at the crossroads of health, environmental and economic issues, deserves our full attention. Let's take a look at the quality of tap water in France and how it is monitored.
French regulations are among the strictest in the world. It is based on hundreds of criteria, ranging from mineral concentrations to traces of pesticides. These standards are the fruit of many years of scientific research, aimed at guaranteeing healthy water for everyone, regardless of where it comes from or where it goes.
As a result Regional Health Agencies (ARS) ensure that water complies with health standards through ongoing monitoring. France is made up of a number of different regions, each of which has its own specific geographical and environmental controls.
The water we drink comes either from groundwater or surface water (rivers, lakes). After collection, it is treated to remove impurities, then stored in reservoirs before being distributed. Each stage is rigorously controlled to prevent contamination.
This chapter looks at the various substances that can alter the quality of tap water.
Although certain elements, such as the calcium or the magnesium.are beneficial to health, others, such as arsenic or certain radionuclidesnaturally present in the subsoil of certain regions, can pose long-term health problems.
First and foremost, microbiological quality is essential to ensure water safety. The presence of micro-organisms can indicate contamination at various levels, such as the transport or the storage.
These organisms can cause gastrointestinal problems in consumers. Germs such asEscherichia coli are indicators of faecal contamination.
Viruses, bacteria, parasites... These micro-organisms, often of faecal origin, can cause sometimes serious illnesses. The chlorinationwhich is widely used in France, can neutralise these threats.
Secondly, the presence of nitrates is a cause for concern. Although they occur naturally, their increase can be due to human activities, such as agriculture. Nitrates can be transformed into nitrites in the human body, hindering the transport of oxygen by red blood cells.
Despite their usefulness, pesticides can infiltrate our water reserves. The presence of these substances in water is mainly due to agriculturebut also to the industry. The long-term effects of pesticides remain a major concern.
Some regions, particularly those with granitic terrain, can have a high level of radioactivityhigh natural background levels. Monitoring these radionuclides is essential to guarantee consumer safety.
Finally, the presence of lead in water is closely monitored, and standards have been tightened from 25 µg/L to 10 µg/L in 2013.
It should also be noted that new substances such as drug residues or perfluorinated compoundsare constantly being discovered and studied to understand their impact on water quality.
Hormones, medicines, cosmetics residues, vinyl chloride... Natural water cycles, through rain, run-off or discharges, bring these new substances into rivers and groundwater. Their long-term impact on health and the environment is still poorly understood.
If the analyses carried out by the ARS prove the presence of the various contaminants listed above in concentrations exceeding a certain threshold, the health authorities will declare the water to be non-compliant.
La non-compliance of water can have a wide range of implications, from simply altering the taste or smell of the water to more serious health risks for the population.
The concept of water non-compliance in France refers to the situation where the water supplied does not meet the quality norms and standards set by the regulations in force. When water is declared 'non-compliant', this means that it presents health risks or does not meet established organoleptic, physico-chemical or microbiological requirements.
The presence of pathogenic micro-organisms in drinking water is strictly regulated. Some examples of non-compliance criteria include :
Chemical substances have various threshold values, depending on their toxicity and potential effects on health. Here are a few examples:
Non-compliance criteria for organoleptic parameters are more subjectivebecause they often relate to the characteristics taste, olfactory or visual of water. However, regulations define thresholds for certain parameters:
Detecting non-compliance relies on regular monitoring. The Regional Health Agencies (ARS), in collaboration with water service operators, carry out regular checks to ensure that the water distributed complies with standards.
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Given the stakes involved, transparency is essential. Today, everyone in France can access data on the quality of their local water, via dedicated platforms or the annual reports of water distributors.
Most town halls and local authorities make the results of drinking water analyses available to the public. These reports are generally published every year. They provide detailed information on whether the water complies with current standards.
Every year, water distributors publish a detailed report on the quality of the water they distribute. This document provides a precise overview of the analyses carried out throughout the year. It is often available on the distributor's website or can be requested directly.
Government platforms such as the SISPEA (Système d'Information sur les Services Publics d'Eau et d'Assainissement) provide access to detailed data on the quality of drinking water in all French municipalities:https://www.services.eaufrance.fr/carte-interactive
The ministry of health also provides full information on the analyses carried out to monitor water quality in your municipality:Â https://sante.gouv.fr/sante-et-environnement/eaux/eau
Read also: What is the price per m3 of water in France and in my municipality?
So while tap water is safe to drink, its quality can be greatly improved by using a variety of home filtration devices. To find out more, we invite you to read our comparative article on the best water filter.
Faced with growing concerns, the home purification market has exploded. Filter carafes, osmosis machines, tap filters... There's a wide range on offer.
While filter carafes are effective against chlorine, other technologies, such as reverse osmosis or activated carbon filtration, can eliminate a wider range of contaminants.
But filtering water is not without consequences. Water that is too pure, for example, can corrode pipes. What's more, inadequate filter maintenance can lead to contamination.
In conclusion, in France, water is one of the most closely monitored foodstuffs in order to ensure its quality and good public health. The measures in place ensure that drinking water remains safe to consume, even if improvements are constantly being sought.
Article written on 10/08/2023 by Pascal Nuti - CIO Solable - Passionate about energy, I'm constantly on the lookout for new targets for improvement, exploring cross-disciplinary paths using novel methods.
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