French Public Health Code
In forceI. - Any public or private person responsible for the production or distribution to the public of water intended for human consumption in any form whatsoever, whether public networks or internal networks, as well as any private person responsible for a private distribution authorised in application of article L. 1321-7, is a water supplier. It is required to:
1° Monitor the quality of the water produced or distributed;
2° Submit to health inspections;
3° Take all necessary corrective measures to ensure water quality, and inform consumers in the event of a health risk;
4° Only use products and processes for water treatment, cleaning and disinfection of installations that are not likely to alter the quality of the water supplied;
5° Comply with the design and hygiene rules applicable to production and distribution facilities;
6° Comply with the rules governing restrictions or interruptions in the event of a health risk, and provide information and advice to consumers within a timeframe commensurate with the health risk;
7° Draw up and implement a water safety management plan for any part of the chain of production and distribution of water intended for human consumption for which it is responsible or, for persons responsible for the internal distribution of premises or establishments where water is supplied to the public, an assessment of the risks associated with the internal water distribution installations.
The previous paragraph does not apply to water suppliers who supply an average quantity of water per day or who serve a number of people in the course of a commercial or public activity below thresholds set by decree.
II. - In the event of a serious risk to public health originating from an indoor installation that does not supply water to the public, the occupier or owner of this installation must, on injunction from the State representative, take all measures to put an end to the risk identified and in particular bring the installation into compliance with hygiene regulations within the time limit set.
III. - 2° of I does not apply to water intended for human consumption from an individual source supplying less than 10 cubic metres per day on average or supplying less than fifty people, unless this water is supplied as part of a commercial or public activity.
