Clean, clear, and safe drinking water is an important part of our diet. However, we often cannot simply consume tap water without concern. Drinking water regulations and limits are in place to ensure comparably good drinking water quality throughout the country.
As attentive consumers, however, various questions arise, especially regarding the content of the drinking water limits . Terms such as total bacterial count, pH value, and other constituents are also important here, as they form the basis for the German Drinking Water Ordinance. The contents of the ordinance are extensive and subject to constant review.
Based on the Drinking Water Ordinance in Germany, we can describe the important role that clean drinking water must play.
What is drinking water? Clean drinking water must have these properties
By definition, drinking water is treated water that can then be safely consumed by humans (and animals). In a broader sense, this includes freshwater that is sufficiently pure to be consumed as food. Since pure water is an essential basis for human life, this principle also serves as the starting point for DIN 2000 .
In this regulation, the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) establishes current requirements for central drinking water supplies. It includes "Guidelines for Drinking Water Requirements, Planning, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Supply Systems." In legal terms, this standard forms the link between the German Federal Water Act (WHG) and the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV) .
We focus primarily on the limit values of the Drinking Water Ordinance . These ensure that consumers are reliably supplied with hygienically safe drinking water. This is done while taking sustainable economic and ecological aspects into account. The properties and limit values for drinking water are explicitly stipulated in Section 4 of the Drinking Water Ordinance. Accordingly, drinking water must be safe for human consumption. This means both the absence of pathogens and the suitability for human consumption.
These paragraphs therefore describe the properties of drinking water within the framework of the limit values for drinking water supply:
- Paragraph 5: Microbiological requirements
- Paragraph 6: Chemical requirements
- Paragraph 7: Indicator parameters
Why is a drinking water regulation important? Development and limit values for drinking water
Access to clean and safe drinking water hasn't always been a given in Germany. In fact, a Drinking Water Ordinance in its current form, abbreviated to TVO, has only existed since 1975. This may sound surprising, but its foundation, the Federal Epidemic Control Act, only came into force in the early 1960s. And it wasn't until the end of the 19th century that hygiene and cleanliness were even incorporated into regulations for public water supplies.
Light, air and sun – The hygienic man around 1900
The Reich Epidemic Law was the first uniform attempt to combat the epidemics that were still very common and widespread at the time. This demonstrates the important role played by clean drinking water even today. In the fight against plague, smallpox, cholera, and other infectious diseases, hygienically available drinking water is both a means and an end. Even today, a central point of the TVO is the chapter on microbiological requirements.
Drinking water regulations and limit values in comparison
Even a glance across the border to our European neighbors quickly reveals that there are sometimes significant differences in the definition of safe drinking water. These differing approaches are based on different, primarily regional, characteristics. In addition, the structures can often vary greatly depending on the region. Therefore, reports of supply shortages and significant deficiencies in water quality can be possible even in advanced countries.
Despite all the individual regulations and guidelines regarding clean drinking water, there are generally established standards regarding the uses for clean drinking water. Therefore, we cannot do without water when...
- Cleansing and caring for the body
- Processing, storage and intake of food
- Cleaning and care of objects of human use beyond food
This is why clean drinking water is so important to us.
Drinking water as a staple food – Regulation on ensuring and monitoring guideline values
The importance of hygienic drinking water as a food source cannot be overstated. It's hardly surprising, then, that such extensive regulations are in place in Germany to ensure the purity and high quality of drinking water everywhere. It helps to know that, by definition, drinking water is not a scarce commodity in our country. Rather, water is not consumed but needed because it is not effectively removed from the water cycle.
This also includes the fact that water is contaminated and therefore no longer safe to drink. However, because our world is an almost completely closed cycle, only a very small amount of water is actually lost from the atmosphere. What sounds like a loss-free system with no weak points, however, cannot be broken down from the big picture into smaller areas.
Rather, it is important to always keep in mind that the availability of drinking water only encompasses one physical state, while other sources are not readily available. This results in a regionally critical shortage, as well as the fact that available resources are unusable . The decisive factor here is the need for hygienic and clean water.
- Therefore, the Drinking Water Ordinance comes into focus, especially when it comes to human-monitored and regulated water supplies. The ordinance not only specifies limit values, but also how and by what means water is extracted.
Not every supposedly clean water source is suitable for drinking. Rather, this water obtained from natural sources must also be filtered, disinfected, deacidified, and degassed. In many places, it is also necessary to remove excessive dissolved substances such as iron and manganese, which often also requires decarbonization. Treatments to combat bacteria and germs should not be forgotten. These treatments can often be very time-consuming and costly, and the sheer volume that suppliers have to treat – around 120-150 liters per day for every person in the supply area, or up to around 75 million liters – shows that this cannot imitate the finest mountain spring water, but can only meet the legally required standards.
For those seeking optimal quality for the few liters they drink, a high-quality water filter in the kitchen proves to be an effective solution. Furthermore, such devices are significantly more environmentally and economically viable than buying bottled mineral water. An activated carbon block filter and a reverse osmosis system are ideal for these needs.
What does the Drinking Water Ordinance cover? Limit values and specifications
In principle, the content of the Drinking Water Ordinance can be narrowed down to three subject areas. Paragraphs 5 to 7, briefly described above, contain thematically defined areas.
Microbiological requirements (Section 5)
We've always talked about hygienically clean drinking water, but strictly speaking, that wasn't entirely true. In fact, drinking water is never completely germ-free during use .
To ensure that the type and quantity of potential bacteria and viruses do not develop uncontrollably, the raw water is thoroughly sterilized or sanitized during treatment before it is fed into the closed pipe networks. In addition, hygienic quality is ensured through random tests at various withdrawal points throughout the network. In order for these measures to comply with the requirements of the Infection Protection Act, drinking water must not contain any pathogens that could be dangerous to human health when it is delivered to the house. So-called microbiological indicator organisms are used for this purpose, which can be used to identify various pathogens. Incidentally, less strict hygiene standards apply to mineral and table water. This zero-tolerance rule for pathogenic germs in drinking water gives rise to the widespread opinion that drinking water is the "best-controlled foodstuff" of all.
Chemical requirements (Section 6)
What seems rather brief and concise at first glance has become increasingly important, especially from a consumer perspective, in recent years. This does not refer to the recurring rumor that drinking water may contain hormones or medications . It states that drinking water must not contain chemical concentrations that could be harmful to human health.
Furthermore, chemical substances may only have an impact on the appearance and quality of the water that corresponds to the limit values. However, this can only be achieved with reasonable effort, taking into account possible individual cases as exceptions within the framework of recognized possibilities. For demanding or sustainably health-conscious users, this raises the question of how "healthy" "suitable, non-harmful" water can really be for an infant or a lifelong supply. And since each user only actually drinks about 1-2 percent of the drinking water they consume, quality optimization seems entirely reasonable for this specific need.
Indicator parameters (paragraph 7)
The two main sections alone comprise 20 parameters, which also take into account odor, taste, color, and turbidity . Various organic and inorganic substances and compounds are examined here, along with their precise descriptions as part of the testing. A special feature is also considered: the search for Legionella pathogens.
Not to be forgotten at this point is an indicator test for radioactive substances . Radon and tritium are also taken into account here.
How are the limit values of the Drinking Water Ordinance determined?
A specific formulation appears repeatedly in the individual sections of the Drinking Water Ordinance and limit values. In varying forms, the instructions, information, and measures repeatedly emphasize that the current state of the art applies. This sentence is sometimes supplemented by a note that implementation will be based on the necessary requirements .
This sounds surprisingly loose in its interpretation and is very difficult to explain in general terms. Given most of the possible constituents and indicators, it immediately seems logical why drinking water needs to be monitored. Natural conditions and regional differences naturally lead to differences in water quality.
How the individual values were determined is usually unclear. However, it can be assumed that technical feasibility and costs were taken into account, as were the recommendations of physiologists and physicians, and a compromise was reached in each case.
The number of different known ingredients ranges – depending on the definition – from 1,500 to over 6,000. However, the TVO lists only around 30 parameters in total. Many individual substances are included in collective parameters, but several are not even listed. A healthy dose of skepticism is therefore warranted as to whether all tap water in Germany can truly be considered perfect drinking water... A few examples:
Iodine: While this may not generally be a cause for concern, in individual cases it can have significant consequences for entire regions and their inhabitants. A striking example is the artificial addition of iodine to drinking water , as is common in the Alpine region. This is intended to counteract natural iodine deficiencies by using specially added drinking water.
Limescale: Another example is when water is artificially limescaled or high water hardness is deliberately not mitigated. If the water is very soft, this can lead to problems due to corrosion on the metal materials of the pipes. Hard water forms a layer of limescale on the inside of the pipes and prevents corrosion. German tap water is sometimes considerably harder than elsewhere in the world and has disadvantages, at least when used externally: Hard water requires more soap when washing, and limescale deposits can cause problems as solid crusts in faucets, boilers, and pipes, but also as a dull coating on skin and hair. When drunk, it is at least more stressful for the kidneys than soft water...
Lead: The fact that limit values are not always based purely on health considerations is clearly demonstrated by the example of lead. For a long time, a surprisingly high limit was common practice, based solely on the alleged state of the art. The EU finally issued a final regulation in 2013. Since then, the significantly lower level of lead in drinking water, which had long been recommended by the WHO, has also been in effect in Germany and Europe.
Drinking Water Ordinance and Limit Values – Conclusion
It will certainly come as no surprise to anyone at this point when we say that the Drinking Water Ordinance, including its limit values, represents a comprehensive and quite complex issue in this country alone. However, this is not solely due to the scope or the details arising from the Drinking Water Ordinance and comparable legal provisions.
Avoiding supply bottlenecks: The primary focus here is on the role of utilities and public regulatory bodies. After all, in Germany, it is at least a primary responsibility of the state to provide all residents with equal living conditions , including access to clean drinking water . This is achieved thanks to Germany's strong network and tight control.
Review of legal basis: While external audit bodies are used for inspections alongside government agencies, many occasions for extraordinary inspections are initiated from outside, so to speak. This sometimes requires a legitimate exception, whatever the legislator's definition of that exception might be.
- The topic of drinking water regulations and limit values is not nearly as static as one might assume. Nevertheless, there is always criticism of the contents , which are not always immediately obvious and logical. Therefore, it is worthwhile not only in cases of doubt to take a look at the local water quality and, if necessary, to consider your own options.
If you want to be on the safe side and filter your portion of drinking water for beverages and cooking before use, please feel free to ask our specialist staff for advice or take a look at our range in our online shop.
We are available to answer any questions you may have at any time.
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