Filenews 30 December 2023
About one in ten water supply networks deviated from legislation on the microbiological quality of drinking water. Discrepancies were also found in 1.7% of drinking water coins and 6.6% of endotoxins.
The 1.7% of coin receivers seem small as a percentage but translates into 20 water machines/coin receivers all over Cyprus and consumers do not know which coin receivers deviated from the legislation and the worst thing is that the problem is usually detected after drinking the water.
There are 1,137 coin machines worldwide. Of these, 18 machines/coin receivers operate in Paphos, 295 in Larnaka, 135 in Famagusta, 108 in Limassol and 581 in Nicosia.
The relevant data (in terms of deviation rates) are included in the report of the General Chemical State Laboratory for the year 2022 (last year for which a report was released).
Moreover, the results of the longitudinal chemical test (2009-2022) show that the percentage of deviations in 2022 has increased for sulphates, sodium and chlorides compared to 2021 levels.
According to the State Chemical Laboratory's report, problems occurred in small communities that are supplied with water from springs whose water is not chlorinated. In order to address the problems, the frequency of the audit has been increased while at the same time the appropriate corrective actions have been initiated by the competent Services.
Samples from camp schools
According to the Laboratory, all samples from schools and camps supplied through tanks, as well as airports, coin receivers, tankers, ships and hospitals were also tested for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Specifically, 8,751 samples of various categories of drinking water were analyzed, with the samples tested increasing by 8.2%.
According to the State Laboratory, in general the microbiological quality of drinking water is considered to be very good.
The integrated water control covers all stages of the chain, starting from the systematic control of surface and groundwater, the treated water of the refineries and the water of the desalination plants, and finally the control of drinking water at the consumer's tap.
Chemical testing on 2,341 samples
The control of drinking water concerns chemical control (chemical parameters), radiological control, microbiological control and toxicity testing, and covers water from the water supply network, bottled water, natural mineral water and water sold by coin receivers and tankers.
Regarding the chemical control of drinking water, in 2022, 2,341 samples were analyzed for 26,139 chemical parameters.
The report of the Chemical Laboratory states that out of the total analyzed drinking water samples in 2022, a small percentage of samples were found outside the acceptable limits of the relevant legislation and indicative parameters such as chloride, sulphate and sodium content. In some cases the exceedances were mainly related to an excess in iron concentration, which belongs to the indicator parameters. Also, some samples were rejected due to their organoleptic state (presence of soil or suspended particles).
Responsibility in climatic conditions and rocks
Regarding the increase in deviations observed for sulphates, sodium and chlorides (compared to 2021 levels), it is reported that the divergent drinking water samples came from specific areas and the increased values of these parameters are mainly due to the climatic conditions of Cyprus as well as to the mineralogical composition of the rocks. The Laboratory notes that these parameters are indicative of the organoleptic state of the water and any excess of the parametric value does not pose a risk to the health of the consumer.
Regarding the radiological control of drinking water, it is stated that in general, all results of analyses for radionuclides in drinking water for 2022, as well as over time (2010-2022), are at much lower levels than the accepted legislative limits.
Refinery water is good
For the final water of the refineries and desalination plants, as well as the water from the water supply network, it is reported that it is of very good quality in terms of toxicity.
For bottled water, analyses (chemical and microbiological testing) were carried out on 86 different brand names. Natural spring waters, natural mineral waters, children's bottled water and samples of drinking ice were covered.
These samples were in situ and imported and concerned 86 different brand names.
As part of the chemical control of bottled water, a total of 152 samples were analyzed in 2022 for a total of 2,884 parameters. The test included natural spring waters, natural mineral waters, children's bottled water as well as samples of drinking ice. They came mainly from consumption, production but also from the source of the bottling plant.
Satisfactory quality of bottled products
The quality of bottled water is judged by the Chemical Laboratory to be very satisfactory.
As regards the microbiological testing of surface waters, 274 samples from dams, rivers and lakes were analysed for total coliforms Escherichia coli and enterococci. Over time from the microbiological tests so far (2009-2022), the Chemical Laboratory concludes that the water of the reservoirs has good microbiological quality and can be used for the production of drinking water.
Regarding the surface water toxicity test in 2022, a total of 114 samples were submitted for analysis and analyzed for 689 parameters, both for toxicity tests and for biological indicators of environmental monitoring (determination of chlorophyll a).
Longitudinal testing for toxicity of surface waters in recent years shows their very good status.
All good from an ecological point of view
Regarding the ecological status of water and chlorophyll in dams and lakes, it is reported that concentrations (chlorophyll) are observed: (a) after periods of heavy rainfall where nutrients are transported to the water, and (b) during the summer months when there is intense sunshine and high temperatures. The majority of dams are generally classified as of good ecological status.
