Quality of water intended for human consumption ? Control objectives and issues

The distribution of drinking water is subject to the obligation to control any pollution that may affect it. The concept of water pollution is constantly evolving. As proof of this, in 2011 the World Health Organization published its 4th edition of the Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, in which it sets out recommendations in terms of health objectives and monitoring and control.

Since the Water Act of January 3, 1992, France has adopted a number of regulatory tools designed to reduce the health and environmental risks associated with water contamination: definition of quality limits and references for distributed water, water resource protection tools, etc.

Today, in addition to these "traditional", albeit relatively recent, issues of water quality control, managers are faced with a host of new developments:

• emerging substances ;

• sustainability of resource management ;

• climate change ;

• citizens' distrust of "water experts".

In order to identify the issues involved, it is worth recalling here the objectives and practices recommended for controlling the pollution of water intended for human consumption. The main aim of water pollution control is to minimize the risks associated with water consumption. It also aims to provide the keys to anticipating future developments in this field, as well as the consequences for the control of treated wastewater discharged into the receiving environment.