ABSTRACTIntroduction of the drinking‐water Directive has resulted in a much more quantified approach to drinking‐water quality. Increased attention from environmental groups and the media, together with occasional breaches of the limits, have resulted in a loss of confidence in the product. Infringements depend upon the stringency of the limits and the quality of available raw water. The UK is one of the few EC countries having to use a high proportion of surface water. The Directive has now been fully implemented in all member states, but information on compliance is poor. Only the UK and Ireland produce compliance reports. Published papers indicate that infringement problems exist throughout the Community, particularly for pesticides, nitrate, lead, coliforms and iron. Nevertheless, drinking water is of very high quality within the EC, and UK supplies compare very favourably with the r