Law 458/2002 was repealed. Romania's drinking-water standard is now Government Ordinance 7/2023, approved by Law 96/2024, transposing EU Directive 2020/2184.
Balotești's water system: 12 boreholes, three tanks, iron and manganese removal and chlorination, according to Apă Ilfov (January 2025).
The legal limit for nitrates in drinking water. Before drinking from a private well, test at least for bacteria, nitrates, nitrites, iron and manganese.
Tap water in Bucharest and Ilfov: the short answer
Tap water from the public network in Bucharest and Ilfov must meet a legal drinking-water standard, and it is monitored by the operator and checked by the public health authorities. In Bucharest the operator is Apa Nova, which treats water from the Argeș and Dâmbovița rivers. In much of Ilfov it is Apă Canal Ilfov (Apă Ilfov), which in many communes pumps groundwater from boreholes and treats it locally.
The standard is no longer Law 458/2002. That law was repealed and replaced by Government Ordinance 7/2023 on the quality of water intended for human consumption, approved by Law 96/2024, which transposes the EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184. The operator answers for the water up to the connection of your property; the pipes inside the house are yours.
In plain words: water from the public network is treated and tested to an EU standard. A private well is not, until you test it. And the last few metres, the pipes inside your home, are your responsibility.
Who supplies your water
| Where | Operator | Source (as published by the operator) |
|---|---|---|
| Bucharest | Apa Nova București | Argeș and Dâmbovița rivers, treated at the Roșu, Crivina and Arcuda plants |
| Many Ilfov communes, e.g. Balotești | Apă Canal Ilfov | Local boreholes, iron and manganese removal, chlorination; some communes are being connected to the Bucharest system |
| Homes without a network connection | You | A private well or borehole |
Bucharest. Apa Nova has explained that river water goes through sand removal, ozonation, settling, filtration and chlorination, and that the chlorine dose is adjusted automatically. The legal range for free residual chlorine in the network is 0.1–0.5 mg/l, so a faint chlorine smell is normal.
Balotești, as an example from Ilfov. In January 2025, Apă Ilfov described the commune's system: 12 boreholes, three storage tanks, a pumping station, filters that remove iron and manganese, and chlorination before distribution. After complaints of discoloured water, the operator said the cause was sediment coming loose from old pipe walls, not the source, and that the water leaving the station met the parameters. Its advice: let the tap run for a few moments until the water clears. The same notice mentions EU-funded works and a new main from the Apa Nova system. Our article on utility connections in Ilfov covers the networks and the new mains in more detail.
The legal standard: what the water must meet
Ordinance 7/2023 sets limits in four tables. A few of the values that matter most for a household:
| Parameter | Limit | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| E. coli and intestinal enterococci | 0 per 100 ml | Signs of faecal contamination; the most important test for a well |
| Nitrates | 50 mg/l | Often linked to fertilisers and septic tanks; a common concern for shallow wells |
| Nitrites | 0.5 mg/l | Same sources; also counted together with nitrates in a combined formula |
| Lead | 10 µg/l until 2036, then 5 µg/l | Comes mostly from old pipes and fittings inside buildings |
| Arsenic | 10 µg/l | Natural in some groundwater |
| Iron / manganese | 200 µg/l / 50 µg/l | Indicator parameters: taste, colour, stains on sanitary ware |
| Free residual chlorine | 0.1–0.5 mg/l in the network | Shows the water is disinfected |
| PFAS total / sum of PFAS | 0.5 µg/l / 0.1 µg/l | New "forever chemicals" parameters from the EU directive |
| Total hardness | at least 5 German degrees, for softened water | A minimum, so that softened water is not aggressive to pipes |
Two points that surprise people:
- There is no maximum for hardness. The ordinance sets a minimum only for water that has been softened. Hard water leaves limescale on kettles and showers, but it is not a health limit.
- Lead is about the building, not the network. The ordinance requires owners of private buildings to identify lead components in their drinking-water installations, and sets a stricter lead limit from 2036. In a new villa, lead pipes should not be an issue; in an old house, ask.
Your right to information
Under article 17 of the ordinance, everyone supplied by a water operator must receive, at least once a year, information on water quality, the price per litre and per cubic metre, and the household's consumption. This can come on the bill or in the operator's app. Operators and the public health directorates (DSP) must also publish quality information.
Apă Ilfov publishes analysis reports for each system and locality on its website, under a monitoring plan approved by DSP Ilfov. Look up your commune before you buy.
Water from the network is tested to an EU standard. A private well is not, until you test it.
Private wells and boreholes
Many villas near Bucharest have a well or borehole, usually for the garden, sometimes as the only source. Two rules apply:
- Water law. Romania's Water Law 107/1996 allows free use of groundwater for household needs up to a small flow. Our guide to garden irrigation and wells in Ilfov explains the 0.2 litres per second threshold.
- Drinking-water law. Article 18 of Ordinance 7/2023 says rural wells, shallow wells and local supplies are controlled by sampling and laboratory analysis under the national monitoring rules.
In practice: a well is fine for watering the lawn without testing. Before you drink from it, cook with it or give it to children, have it tested.
How to test your water, step by step
- Decide what you are testing: tap water from the network (usually only if you suspect a problem in your own pipes) or a well (always before drinking).
- Choose an accredited laboratory. Apă Ilfov's laboratory is accredited by RENAR and is open to any individual, for any source: wells, groundwater, surface water or the public network. The county public health directorate (DSP) is another option.
- Ask for the right parameters. For a well, at least: E. coli, enterococci, coliform bacteria, nitrates, nitrites, ammonium, iron, manganese, turbidity and pH. Ask the lab whether arsenic is worth adding for your area.
- Follow the sampling instructions. Use the lab's sterile bottles, let the tap run first, and deliver the sample within the time they give you.
- Compare with the limits in the table above, and repeat the test after heavy rain or once a year for a well.
- If something fails, ask the lab what treatment fits that specific problem before buying any equipment.
Do you need a filter?
It depends on what you want to fix.
| What you notice | Likely cause | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine taste or smell | Disinfection, within legal limits | A simple activated carbon filter in a jug or under the sink |
| Limescale on kettles and showers | Hard water | A softener for the hot-water circuit; keep drinking water above the 5 German degrees minimum |
| Brown or cloudy water now and then | Sediment in the network | Let the tap run; report it to the operator if it persists |
| A failed well test | Bacteria, nitrates, iron, manganese | Treatment chosen for the specific result, e.g. UV for bacteria, special media for nitrates |
Check the approval. Products in contact with drinking water, including filters and treatment media, are regulated under the ordinance and Ministry of Health Order 275/2012. Ask the seller for the sanitary approval of the product, and for the maintenance schedule: a filter that is not changed can make the water worse.
If you buy a new villa, check the water at handover along with the rest of the installations. Our new home handover guide lists what to inspect.
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water safe to drink in Bucharest?
Water from Apa Nova's network must meet the drinking-water standard of Ordinance 7/2023 and is monitored by the operator and the public health authorities. Inside older buildings, the quality at the tap also depends on the internal pipes, which are the owner's responsibility.
Is Law 458/2002 still in force?
No. Law 458/2002 on drinking water quality was repealed and replaced by Government Ordinance 7/2023, approved by Law 96/2024, which transposes the EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184.
Who supplies water in Ilfov?
In many localities, Apă Canal Ilfov, which operates local systems based on boreholes and treatment stations. Some communes are being connected to the Bucharest system through new mains. Ask the town hall or the operator which system serves your street.
How do I test well water in Romania?
Use an accredited laboratory, such as Apă Ilfov's RENAR-accredited lab or the county public health directorate. Test at least for E. coli, enterococci, coliforms, nitrates, nitrites, iron and manganese, and repeat yearly.
Do I need a water softener?
Not for health reasons: the ordinance has no maximum for hardness. A softener protects boilers, heat pumps and showers from limescale. If you soften drinking water, it must keep at least 5 German degrees of hardness.
The bottom line
The public water in Bucharest and Ilfov is treated and tested to an EU standard, and the operators publish the results. The two places where a homeowner needs to act are the pipes inside the house and any private well. A laboratory test costs far less than a filter bought for the wrong problem.
If you are choosing a villa near Bucharest, with us or anywhere else, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the utilities, the water source and what to check before you sign.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Government Ordinance 7/2023 on the quality of water intended for human consumption, consolidated text (DSP Bihor), art. 2, 10, 11, 17, 18 and Annex 1 · Apă Ilfov notice on water quality in Balotești (22 January 2025) · Apă Ilfov laboratory · Apă Ilfov water quality reports · HotNews: how Apa Nova treats Bucharest's water (20 February 2019)
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The rules are correct as of 22 October 2026. Water quality can change; check your operator's latest reports and test any private well before drinking from it.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
