French regulation of tap water relies on strict standards warranting its quality. It is presently one of the most controlled alimentary products, from natural resources up to the tap including factory and distribution network. Worm out water is treated before returned to natural milieu in order to protect environment. In France, regulations are edited by Minister of Health accounting for EU and WHO recommendations establishing maximal doses of some substances that one can ingest daily and lifelong without any harm; the maximum tolerable doses are then calculated, usually with a safety margin. Current Public Health regulations include 56 quality parameters: chemical, physical or microbiological. The treatment of water includes mostly physical or biological processes, efficacy of which is severely controlled. In addition of supervision of the different steps of the production by the development companies, steady health controls are performed by the departmental directions of health and social affairs (DDASS). During year 2006, more than 31,000 samples have been performed allowing more than eight millions analysis. Information on the quality of water is mandatory and local details are sticked in city hall or joined clearly to the water invoice by DDASS; it is also possible to contact the web sites of most of the companies distributing water. Tap water is a source of minerals and trace elements: calcium, magnesium, fluor... which are naturally present in soils and rocks that water flows through. Mineral thresholds are determined by norms in order to ensure a good mineral balance. (C) 2009 Societe francaise de nutrition. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
