Inspections ensure the quality of the water network

The Farys laboratory closely monitors the quality of tap water. It holds official qualifications: VLAREL accreditation (Flemish Regulation on Environmental Accreditations) from the Flemish Government and accreditation from the federal accreditation body BELAC. These accreditations ensure that all analyses are carried out with full independence and objectivity.

How do we carry out checks?

• At customers’ homes: We take random samples from the kitchen tap and analyse them microbiologically and chemically in accordance with legal requirements. This allows us to screen every municipality in our distribution area at least once every two months.
• In our installations: We perform weekly checks in production centres, water towers and reservoirs.
• Groundwater and surface water are also monitored weekly to detect pollution at an early stage.

We report all the results of these analyses to the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM). Only in exceptional cases does a sample fail to meet legal standards. In such cases, we immediately inform the VMM and the Department of Care. Together, we determine which actions are required and whether communication to the public is necessary. Even when there is no risk to public health and the drinking water remains safe, Farys communicates transparently about temporary exceedances of standards. We do this in accordance with the European Drinking Water Directives and the Flemish Government Decree on the quality, quantity and supply of water intended for human consumption of 20 January 2023.

We also continuously monitor our water treatment processes. During works on the distribution network, we take additional samples and forward the results to our technical teams so they can intervene quickly if needed.