United Utilities Domestic Drinking Water Quality 2023-2024

Data Origin: Samples were taken from customer taps. They were then analysed, and the results were uploaded to a database. This dataset is an extract from this database. Data Triage Considerations: Granularity: We decided to share as individual results at the lowest level of granularity. Anonymisation: It is a requirement that this data cannot be used to identify a singular person or household. We discussed many options for aggregating the data to a specific geography to ensure this requirement is met. The following geographical aggregations were discussed: Water Supply Zone (WSZ) - Limits interoperability with other datasets Postcode – Some postcodes contain very few households and may not offer necessary anonymisation Postal Sector – Deemed not granular enough in highly populated areas Rounded Co-ordinates – Not a recognised standard and may cause overlapping areas MSOA – Deemed not granular enough LSOA – Agreed as a recognised standard appropriate for England and Wales Data Zones – Agreed as a recognised standard appropriate for Scotland Data Specifications: Each dataset will cover a calendar year of samples This dataset will be published annually The Determinands included in the dataset are as per the list that is required to be reported to the Drinking Water Inspectorate Context: Many UK water companies provide a search tool on their websites where you can search for water quality in your area by postcode. The results of the search may identify the water supply zone that supplies the postcode searched. Water supply zones are not linked to LSOAs which means the results may differ to this dataset. Some sample results are influenced by internal plumbing and may not be representative of drinking water quality in the wider area. Some samples are tested on site and others are sent to scientific laboratories. Prior to undertaking analysis on any new instruments or utilising new analytical techniques, the laboratory undertakes validation of the equipment to ensure it continues to meet the regulatory requirements. This means that the limit of quantification may change for the method either increasing or decreasing from the previous value. Any results below the limit of quantification will be reported as < with a number. For example, a limit of quantification change from <0.68 mg/l to <2.4 mg/l does not mean that there has been a deterioration in the quality of the water supplied. Data Publishing Frequency: Annually Supplementary information: Below is a curated selection of links for additional reading, which provide a deeper understanding of this dataset: Drinking Water Inspectorate Standards and Regulations Description for LSOA boundaries by the ONS: Census 2021 geographies - Office for National Statistics Postcode to LSOA lookup tables: Postcode to 2021 Census Output Area to Lower Layer Super Output Area to Middle Layer Super Output (February 2024) Legislation history: Legislation - Drinking Water Inspectorate Information about lead pipes: Lead pipes and lead in your water - United Utilities Dataset Schema: SAMPLE_ID: Identity of the sample SAMPLE_DATE: The date the sample was taken DETERMINAND: The determinand being measured DWI_CODE: The corresponding DWI code for the determinand UNITS: The expression of results OPERATOR: The measurement operator for limit of detection RESULT: The test results LSOA: Lower Super Output Area (population weighted centroids used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for geo-anonymisation)### 数据来源 样本取自用户供水龙头，经分析检测后将结果上传至数据库，本数据集为该数据库的提取子集。 ### 数据筛选考量 #### 粒度要求 我们决定以最细粒度的单独检测结果进行数据共享。 #### 匿名化要求 本数据集不得用于识别单个自然人或家庭，此为强制性要求。我们曾研讨多种按特定地理区域聚合数据的方案，以满足该匿名化要求。经研讨的地理聚合方案如下： - 供水区（Water Supply Zone, WSZ）：会限制与其他数据集的互操作性 - 邮政编码：部分邮政编码覆盖的住户数量极少，无法实现必要的匿名化效果 - 邮政分区：在人口密集区域被认为粒度不足 - 四舍五入坐标：并非公认标准，可能导致区域重叠 - 中层超级输出区（Middle Layer Super Output Area, MSOA）：被认为粒度不足 - 下层超级输出区（Lower Layer Super Output Area, LSOA）：获认可为适用于英格兰与威尔士的公认地理聚合标准 - 数据区：获认可为适用于苏格兰的公认地理聚合标准 ### 数据规格 - 每份数据集涵盖一个完整日历年的检测样本 - 本数据集将按年度发布 - 数据集包含的检测指标均为需向饮用水监察局（Drinking Water Inspectorate）上报的规定清单内指标 ### 背景说明 英国多家水务公司在其官网提供水质搜索工具，用户可通过邮政编码查询所在区域的水质情况，搜索结果可能会显示覆盖该邮政编码的供水区。由于供水区与下层超级输出区（LSOA）并无对应关联，因此本数据集的结果或与该类官网搜索结果存在差异。 部分样本结果受用户内部供水管路影响，无法代表更大范围区域的饮用水水质。部分样本现场完成检测，其余样本则送往科研实验室开展分析。 实验室在启用新检测仪器或采用新分析技术前，会对设备进行性能验证，以确保其持续符合监管要求。这意味着该检测方法的定量限可能会发生变化（升高或降低）。所有低于定量限的检测结果将以"<数值"的形式报告。例如，某检测方法的定量限从<0.68 mg/L变更为<2.4 mg/L，并不代表供水水质出现恶化。 ### 数据发布频率 年度发布 ### 补充信息 以下为精选的附加阅读链接，可帮助您更深入地理解本数据集： 1. 《饮用水监察局标准与法规》 2. 英国国家统计局（Office for National Statistics, ONS）关于LSOA边界的说明：《2021年普查地理分区——英国国家统计局》 3. 《邮政编码至LSOA映射表：邮政编码至2021年普查输出区至下层超级输出区至中层超级输出区映射表（2024年2月）》 4. 《法规沿革：饮用水监察局相关法规》 5. 《铅管相关信息：英国联合公用事业公司（United Utilities）发布的铅管与水中铅含量》 ### 数据集架构 - `SAMPLE_ID`：样本唯一标识 - `SAMPLE_DATE`：样本采集日期 - `DETERMINAND`：检测指标 - `DWI_CODE`：对应检测指标的DWI编码（DWI为饮用水监察局的英文缩写） - `UNITS`：结果计量单位 - `OPERATOR`：检测限测定的执行操作者 - `RESULT`：检测结果 - `LSOA`：下层超级输出区（Lower Super Output Area, LSOA），采用英国国家统计局（Office for National Statistics, ONS）用于地理匿名化的人口加权质心坐标