- Extended range of application, so that its coverage now goes as
far as the final tap
- Compliance with the regulation and thus the duty to maintain
the quality of the drinking water in supply systems within a
building are now the responsibility of the owner or operator of the
system
- New and existing systems for the use of rain water and
industrial water must now be reported to the German Department of
Public Health
- More stringent requirements on the quality of drinking
water
- Specific materials are required for certain types of water (see
also DIN 50930 Part 6)
- Operator‘s notification duty towards the German Department of
Public Health in case of exceeding maximum limits on chemical and
microbiological contamination for instance upon the occurrence of
legionellae or pseudomonadaceae.
- Increased monitoring of drinking water supply systems,
particularly systems that provide water for the use of the general
public
- Users of drinking water systems must be notified of water
treatment activities such as the addition of disinfectants
- The responsibility for maintaining the quality of the drinking
water in an installation within a building is now held by the
operator.
Section 4 of the German Drinking Water Regulation works on the
assumption that any drinking water that is going to be distributed
complies with the microbiological and chemical parameters and
indicators specified in the Regulation. It also assumes that the
procurement, treatment and distribution of water comply with a
range of generally established technical criteria. The installation
within a house or institution is considered to constitute the final
stage of the water distribution.
The standards and info sheets listed here are considered to be
established technical criteria for the planning, setup and
operation of drinking water supply systems. To update its technical
criteria and to implement the relevant European standards, the
Water Standards Committee for German DIN Standards has decided to
revise and consolidate all standards in connection with drinking
water supply systems. Moreover, a range of further important
changes are likely to follow. Health hazards in drinking water
supply systems may be due to a variety of causes. Physical changes
include, for instance, increased temperatures in the cold water
range.
Chemical changes are indicated by increased concentrations of metal
ions, and stagnation is a sign of microbiological changes. Some
important issues in this context are proper professional planning
in a way that suits a given special application, selection of the
correct products and materials, impeccable craftsmanship in
carrying out installations and use of a supply system for its
intended purpose. Essential roles are played by servicing and
maintenance, on the one hand, and by operation and use, on the
other. The latter can ultimately only be ensured by the operator.