The water that comes to your home originally comes from various sources such as streams or lakes, or from groundwater where it is extracted and controlled to detect any pollution. Once this test is passed, screening and sieving are performed to remove large debris. Then, a coagulant is poured into the water to gather remaining waste, a process known as flocculation.
Decantation then allows these wastes to settle at the bottom of the basin. A first filtration is carried out; the water passes through a sand and/or activated carbon filter which removes materials still visible to the naked eye, and retains micro-pollutants (such as pesticides). After that, the ozone disinfects the water during ozonation; this gas kills bacteria and viruses, and also acts by “breaking down” organic materials into pieces. It also improves the flavor and color of the water. A second filtration, identical to the first, is done.
Finally, chlorine is added at the exit of the production plant and several times in the pipes before the distribution of water to homes.
### Water Under Surveillance
At each stage of water’s journey, its quality is monitored. Health checks are regularly carried out by the Departmental Directorates of Health and Social Affairs (DDASS). Thus, in one year, more than 310,000 samples are taken.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set quality limits to ensure water remains potable and safe for the health of consumers.
The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (AFSSA) is responsible for assessing health risks when a quality limit is exceeded.
When a proven risk to health is declared, consumers are immediately informed through the media and are advised not to drink tap water. If the problem is serious, the water distribution may even be suspended.
### Where is the Water from Nice Sourced?
According to Gilles Rousseaux, Director of Communications for Veolia South-East, “the water in Nice is of excellent quality, coming from two different resources: the Vésubie spring and the Var alluvial aquifer. It naturally contains all the trace elements and minerals necessary for the body.” The most important quality standards are indeed respected. Therefore, there is no danger in drinking tap water in Nice.
### The Proof by A + °F
| Hardness (°F) | – | 24 |
| Ph | from 6.5 to 9 | 7.7 |
| Calcium (mg/l) | – | 86 |
| Magnesium (mg/l) | ≤50 | 11 |
| Sulfate | ≤250 | 134 |
| Chloride (mg/l) | ≤250 | 14 |
| Nitrates (mg/l) | ≤50 | 3 |
| Fluoride (mg/l) | ≤1.5 | 0.17 |
To assess the quality of water, three tools are available to the public. First, a display in each town hall informs about the latest results from water health control analyses. Second, once a year your water bill includes a summary of the water quality for the previous year. Additionally, you can visit the website set up by the Ministry of Health: www.eaupotable.sante.gouv.fr, to access the latest analysis results.
