Food is inspected for good reasons. Increasingly health-conscious consumers quite rightly pose critical questions about the quality and origin of products they buy – and the same goes for drinking water, our No. 1 foodstuff. Where does it come from? How is it processed and distributed? What substances are added to it? Can you in all good conscience let your children drink it and use it for preparing food and beverages?

As the officer responsible for hygiene and product quality, Ms Elvira Saalfeld, a graduate engineer at the Weimar Water Supply Association (WZV Weimar), gives this assurance: “You don’t need to worry about drinking our water, and it tastes good, too.” A multi-stage system – precautions, regulations, monitoring, hygiene and professional skill – makes sure of this.
According to Ms Saalfeld, these precautions mean that all the wells and springs used by the WZV Weimar are legally protected water reserves. Because of their intended use, these areas are subject to certain restrictions which are designed to protect the ground water. “Together with representatives of the local health authorities, we carry out regular on-the-spot checks to ensure that these conditions are adhered to”, says Ms Saalfeld.
When preparing drinking water, says Ms Saalfeld, the WZV Weimar uses only those substances that are approved by the “Regulations on Drinking Water and Water for Use in Foodstuffs”, processing and dosing plants are checked regularly and supervised constantly.
Ms Saalfeld emphasises that even the checks are carried out strictly according to law. An independent, accredited laboratory takes more than 1,000 drinking water samples per year for testing on
behalf of the WZV Weimar. “Two testing organizations are better than one”, says Ms Saalfeld, and mentions that the local health authorities also take samples for analysis.
The hygiene and quality specialist also keeps a close eye on cleanliness. As a precaution the storage tanks are regularly emptied and cleaned by WZV Weimar employees. Only after subsequent testing of the water are the tanks approved for use again. The procedure is the same for newly-laid pipes: these are carefully disinfected and washed out before being put into service.

The area manager mentions the importance of well-qualified staff. Both operation, maintenance and repair of the WZV Weimar’s water supply plant are carried out by specialists – experienced and qualified staff, master tradesmen and engineers, who continually attend training courses. As a member of the German Gas and Water Association (DVGW) and the German Gas and Water Industry Association (BGW), the WZV Weimar also profits from the information and advice services and continuing education courses these organizations offer.
Ms Saalfeld sums it all up in one sentence: “Our drinking water is a tested quality product from our region!”
Address
Friedensstraße 40
D-99423 Weimar
Telefon +49 (0) 3643 903436
Telefax +49 (0) 3643 902090
wasserversorgung@weimar.de
www.wasserversorgung.weimar.deYear of foundation
1993
Employees
ca. 95
Business activity
The supply of water for 110,000 people, industry, small businesses, agriculture and
public authorities in the Weimar region. The loan of water metres (for construction projects).
Advice and service for our customers.
24-hour call-out duty.