From the water extraction facility to the central safety device at the transfer point (system separator), the water supply company is responsible. Strict compliance with the requirements of the German Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV) is mandatory, and when planning, installing, and operating transfer points from a public drinking water supply network via hydrants, the Technical Regulations of the DVGW (Worksheet W 408 and Supplementary Sheet B1) must be adhered to.

The water supplier ensures, with considerable effort, the quality and purity of the drinking water, which is then passed on under the responsibility of the operator of the distribution system.

On June 23, 2023, the new German Drinking Water Ordinance came into effect, replacing the 2001 Drinking Water Ordinance. It regulates the requirements for the quality of drinking water and serves to protect the health of consumers. The ordinance specifies the parameters and limits that must be adhered to in drinking water. It comprises three essential components:

1. Limits and quality parameters
2. Monitoring and inspection obligations
3. Information obligations

From the system separator onward, the event organizer or operator (e.g., of festivals, fairs, or trade shows) assumes responsibility for the quality of drinking water. Distribution systems are typically set up anew for each event and dismantled, stored, or transported after the event concludes. Contaminants can enter the distribution systems during these processes. Therefore, careful attention must be paid to the materials and components, as well as their proper installation.

The supply section 2, which is the responsibility area for the event organizer, applies from the hose coupling onward!

Each food truck, beverage truck, showman, and sanitary facility requires a separate secured connection point!

Strict controls by health and regulatory authorities regarding the correct installation of drinking water, as well as the components and materials used, are increasing. If the health department or other authorities notice a violation of regulations, this can lead to serious consequences for the event organizer.

Depending on the extent of the damage, the entire drinking water distribution may need to be shut down and disinfected. The event organizer faces a high financial risk. In addition, there are reputational damages, as the event may be partially or completely canceled.

The operator of the subsequently connected facility or the consumer (e.g., snack bar or market stand) is responsible for the proper installation within their supply section (supply section 3). These facilities are often operated only seasonally or irregularly, resulting in longer stagnation times due to operational reasons than provided for in the generally recognized rules of technology for central drinking water installations.

It is particularly important to ensure correct installation and handling during operation, as the water often comes into direct or indirect contact with people (e.g. when rinsing glasses, preparing food). Distribution systems are typically set up for each event and then dismantled, stored or transported again at the end of the event. Contamination can get into the distribution systems during this process. A separate fused connection point is required for each food trolley, drinks trolley, showman and each sanitary facility!

The approved draft law of the federal government stipulates that, in the future, the provision of tap water through drinking water dispensers in public places will be part of the public water supply, as a task of public interest. This involves the installation of drinking water dispensers placed at publicly accessible locations in cities and municipalities.
With our many years of experience, we have developed a cost-effective and secure solution that complies with the applicable requirements.

When establishing public drinking water dispensers, factors such as safety, hygiene, and technology must be considered. In January 2022, the guideline DVGW W 274 was introduced as a basis for this.

It outlines the requirements for the planning, construction, operation, and self-monitoring of public drinking water dispensers. The guideline ensures a high safety standard for public drinking water dispensers.

The topic of drinking water dispensers in Germany is on everyone's lips due to the new draft law from the federal government. We regularly provide information in our webinar series about legislation, current challenges, and practical solutions.

Feel free to join us!

The standpipe serves as a provisional temporary water source for construction sites, events, or situations where there is no fixed water supply. It is mounted on an underground hydrant, which is opened using a hydrant wrench. Mobile water distribution is subject to strict regulations because, as it is often disassembled and reassembled, there is a significant risk of contamination, which is critical for human health.

The DIN EN 1717 establishes a uniform standard across Europe for the drinking water installation to safeguard drinking water against non-potable water. For the mobile supply of drinking water at events, the BA backflow preventer (according to DIN EN 1717, a "pipe separator with controllable intermediate pressure zone") is suitable as an approved safety device. It prevents water from flowing back into the public network, which is crucial. If the water is contaminated or polluted and flows back into the network, it can also come out of the tap in the nearest house.

iQ TrackIT is BEULCO's standpipe management system. With this system, utilities can efficiently and clearly manage their standpipe inventory. It covers everything from rental agreements and reservations to status reports (Free, In Repair, On Loan). The system is complemented by a localization solution to provide more transparency.

This allows utilities to see at any time when and where each standpipe is located. To meet the demanding requirements in standpipe use, a special GPS tracker is employed. The robust housing withstands even the toughest conditions. Using the GPS signal, the standpipe can be tracked with precision down to the meter.

Hydrants provide a simple and fast way to draw water from the supply network. However, due to the often poor visibility of the access points, water dispensing points are frequently damaged. This poses a risk of contaminating the hydrant shaft and, consequently, the public water distribution network. To address this issue, protecting the hydrant is now as easy as extracting water.

With the hydrant protective cover, contaminants can be prevented through complete coverage of the hydrant shaft – effortlessly and swiftly.

Underground hydrants are often contaminated. As a result, foreign bodies enter the drinking water and damage safety devices and fittings. By flushing the underground hydrant, foreign bodies are flushed out of the pipe system
and can therefore no longer cause any damage. Professional flushing is therefore particularly important before commissioning a standpipe.

A suitable, safe, and permissible further distribution from the standpipe can be set up using a distribution box. This box is connected to the standpipe, for example, via a drinking water hose, and distributes the water to up to 10 outlets with a system separator. Because it is essential that each user has their own connection point. This point must be secured with a system separator BA. Cross-connections from exhibitor to exhibitor are not allowed.