According to a report from the Ministry of Health, made public this Monday, October 13, 96.7% of the French population has, at the tap, drinking water of good microbiological quality. Based on precise calculations made in 2012, the study also indicates that that same year, 99.1% of the population was permanently served by water within the limit of quality for nitrates. Finally, 95.5% of French people were supplied withpotable water of which the tolerated quality limit for pesticides has been respected.
Isolated areas more exposed to microbiological risk
The report therefore sets out clearly improving figures: the share of the population exposed to microbiological risks rose from 8.8% in 2000 to 3.3% in 2012.
The population exposed to too high doses of pesticides decreased by 43% since 2003, and by 16% between 2010 and 2012 in terms of nitrate concentrations.
However, the report also mentions geographic disparities that need to be rectified: drinking water distribution units in rural or mountain areas are more exposed to microbiological risk. Exceedances of the quality limits for pesticides and nitrates are also more often encountered in rural and agricultural areas.
To rectify these territorial differences, the Directorate General of Health calls for continued prevention efforts, notably by reducing the use of pesticides, but also by setting up catchment protection perimeters.
In December 2012, only 66% of catchments in the territory benefited from protection aimed at reducing the risk of pollution from nitrates and pesticides.
Regarding the lead in tap water, the communities have put in place programs to replace lead pipes and public connections. Thus, 98.2% of the analyzes carried out on drinking water in 2012 were indeed in compliance with the quality limit set at 25μg / L of lead.
The higher rates sometimes observed would be due to lead pipes which remain unreplaced in private networks.