Instead of the old system which classified drinking water as very good, good or agreeable, just one standard will now be applied.
"Compared to the previous Estonian regulation we now have to take into account several bacteriological, chemical and radiological points," said Tiit Laur, laboratory manager at Tallinna Vesi, the capital's drinking water supplier and waste water processing company.
As well as applying microbiological, chemical and radiological tests the transparency, smell, taste and color of water supplies is to be studied.
Several other tests will be carried out, including measurement of the conductivity of drinking water and checks on levels of aluminum, ammonium, residual chlorine, residual ozone, chloride, manganese, sodium, iron and sulfate.
Heli Sober, spokeswoman for Tallinna Vesi, said it was a myth that Tallinn's tap water was unsafe.
"Recent tests at both Ulemiste Lake (Tallinn's tap water source) and the city water network showed that the water quality is good and meets all the requirements. You can safely drink tap water in Tallinn," said Sober.
Last year about 95 percent of 80,000 drinking water checks carried out in Estonia produced good results.
As the lab at Tallinna Vesi received an ISO certificate last year no additional investment will be needed to police the new regulations, said Sober.
Some 30 million kroons ($1.8 million) is to be invested in water quality control facilities and partial renovation of Tallinn's pipeline this year.
But consumers should be aware that Tallinna Vesi's responsibilities end in the basement of each building, where the company's water supply pipe joins the pipes of an individual building.
Out of about 30 water supply companies working in Estonia, Tallinna Vesi is the only one which has been at least partly privatized. Britain's International Water UU owns 50.4 percent of Tallinna Vesi while Tallinn municipality owns the rest.
Please enter your username and password.
2024 © The Baltic Times /Cookies Policy
