High quality
VIVAQUA’s mission is to produce high-quality water, in compliance with all regional and federal legislation in force.
For this purpose, it complies in particular with the provisions of legislation on the quality of water intended for human consumption defined by the 1998 European Directive 98/83/EC.
The water that reaches your tap complies with all the potability standards imposed by the three Regions and by the Federal State. These standards are stricter than those prescribed by the European Union.
In the Brussels-Capital Region, tap water is excellent drinking water.
Continuous monitoring
To ensure this quality, VIVAQUA carries out a large number of preventive controls. The water is continuously monitored at each stage of its production, transport and distribution.
In addition, following the repair or installation of a pipe, our technical teams ensure that the pipes are flushed. To ensure the potability of the water following works, our employees wait for the go-ahead from the Laboratory before putting the pipe back into service.
55 parameters
The distributed water must meet quality requirements concerning more than 55 parameters (microbiological, chemical, radiochemical or indicator parameters), established by regional legislation.
From a microbiological perspective, the water supplied by VIVAQUA is treated and monitored in such a way as to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and prevent their proliferation in the distribution network. Our Laboratory has developed specific analysis methods for these particular risks.
Our Laboratory also develops analysis methods to detect traces of drugs (anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, etc.) in the distributed water. The results demonstrate the absence of risk to the consumer.
Do you want to check water quality in your home?
Do you have limescale in your water?
Water hardness reflects the calcium and magnesium content dissolved in water.
Water is said to be soft or hard based on this content, which is expressed in French degrees (°f or °fH). It is sometimes also expressed in German degrees (°dH).
| 1 French degree (°f or °fH) corresponds to |
|
Composition varies according to origin
While meeting the standards imposed by legislation, the composition of the water distributed in the Brussels-Capital Region may vary according to its origin.
Do you want to know the composition of the water that reaches your tap?
|
Water hardness scale |
|
| from 0 to 5°fH | very soft water |
| from 5 to 15°fH | soft water |
| from 15 to 25°fH | medium hard water |
| from 25 to 40°fH | hard water |
| > 40°fH | very hard water |
Your most frequently asked questions
-
No. Rainwater is not drinkable and is not even reliable for regular personal hygiene.
Why?
Because rainwater is polluted by that which is present in the atmosphere:
- significant concentration of lead
- concentration of car exhaust gases that are not fully burned
- SO2 (sulphur dioxide)
- fumes from the waste incinerator and chemical plant chimneys, etc.
In addition, rainwater runs over roofs covered in dust and soiled by birds. After a few months, the tank is a veritable breeding ground for microbes.
When can rainwater be used?
It can be suitable for certain domestic uses: cleaning, washing, rinsing toilets, watering the garden, etc.
If you want to install a rainwater system in your home, make perfectly sure that it is completely and permanently separated from the drinking water system to avoid contaminating the latter.
Contact your water company for technical information. It should also be noted that the installation of a rainwater recovery system remains a significant investment which cannot always be recovered financially.