[Surveillance and testing of domestic installations according to the new drinking water regulations]

Effective 1.1.2003 the new drinking water regulation (TrinkwV2001) was enacted. For public health authorities new tasks result, for example the monitoring of house installations with supply of drinking water for the public, in particular in hospitals, old person nursing homes, kindergartens, schools, hotels, restaurants etc. Public health authorities are obligated to establish a monitor programme on the basis of suitable controls by random sampling. The investigations of drinking water are to extend to at least the parameters, which can change in the house installation unfavourably. In view of the multiplicity of the plants which can be supervised the question arises, how far public health authorities can conscientiously fulfil their monitoring obligation. The Ministry of Health MFAS of Lower Saxony initiated country-wide a working group developed for a pattern administrative regulation, which, revised by the "Länderarbeitsgemeinschaft Umweltbezogener Gesundheitsschutz" LAUG, has been published in some Lands of the German Federal Republic with changes. The pattern administrative regulation plans to examine hospitals and old person nursing homes at least 1 x annually, schools and kindergartens every 5 years, other communal facilities, sport and leisure facilities, hotels and restaurants after a risk evaluation by random sampling at least however one plant per 10,000 inhabitants. Restaurants in stations, ports and airports are to be controlled at least once annually. The drinking water investigation is to extend to micro-biological parameters, like E. coli, coliform germs, germs tested at 22 degrees C and 36 degrees C as well as the chemical parameters copper and lead. The investigation on Legionella pneumophila in the warm-water system can be arranged in individual cases. In this article the considerations for these defaults are described, and pointers to a practicable risk assessment are given.