Tap water in the UK

Water is life. We all know the saying. But in several French cities, tap water is an exception to the rule. Long considered the best drink, tap water in France is now facing growing mistrust from an increasing number of people. Between scandals and revelations, many French people feel compelled to turn to alternative solutions to meet their drinking water needs. In this article, we delve into the issue and take you on a journey to discover the secrets hidden in this liquid that flows from your tap. Is it really safe to drink? Are you doing the right thing by drinking tap water directly and using it for cooking? Should you be looking for alternative solutions? Without bias or mincing words, here are some answers.

How Is Tap Water Treated?

It all began in the 19th century. To serve populations living in urban areas, drinking water networks began to be established. In just a few years, water networks have expanded considerably, and almost everywhere, households have access to drinking water.

The water treatment process is divided into four essential stages: collection or extraction from the natural environment, purification (filtration, settling, and disinfection) at treatment plants, storage in storage facilities, and distribution.

Today, France has 996,000 km of pipes for water distribution, aiming to supply the 54 m³ that each inhabitant should consume on average each year, or 150 liters per day. That said, wouldn't it be interesting to discuss the system by which tap water is controlled?

The Water Network Control Mechanism in France

Let's establish the basics. In France, tap water is subject to very rigorous health controls and monitoring. Regulations mandate continuous monitoring of drinking water, from its initial collection from the natural environment to its delivery to the consumer's tap. To this end, standards have been established, which can be classified into two main categories:

Quality limits, for certain elements that may pose a long-term health risk to consumers. These include microbiological parameters and toxic substances such as heavy metals, nitrates, pesticides, etc.; and quality benchmarks such as color, taste, odor, and the presence of certain minerals, which assess the quality of the treatment and distribution facilities.

However, for over 10 years, thanks to improved analytical methods, instances of non-compliance with water standards have been increasing in several regions of France. In 2004, the average daily consumption of tap water per capita was 165 liters. In 2021, this amount had fallen to 150 liters, a decrease of 15 liters per capita per day.

While these figures may seem insignificant to some, they reflect a change in behavior whose causes are not difficult to discern. According to the 25th edition of Kantar's annual barometer for the French Water Information Center (CIeau), nearly 85% of French people trust tap water, appreciating its stability over the past decade. While this percentage may appear satisfactory, it also means that approximately 15% of French people no longer trust tap water and believe its quality has declined.

Thus, approximately 75% of French people have become "mixed drinkers," combining both tap water and bottled water. Even more striking, 48% drink bottled water every day. Clearly, the French are now wary of tap water.

A survey conducted by the General Commission for Sustainable Development states that those over 50 have a stronger preference for bottled water. However, the choice of drinking water does not necessarily depend on socio-demographic factors, but primarily on the perception of tap water quality.

Tap Water in France Does Not Always Meet Standards

Even though quality controls have been strengthened since 2020 following a ministerial directive, it's better to be clear: drinking water sometimes contains bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other compounds such as nitrates that render it unfit for consumption.

For example, a report published by the Water Information Center on its website indicates that nearly 6% of French people, or approximately 3.9 million people, received non-compliant water at least once in 2019. That same year, several thousand people were prohibited from using tap water for cooking.