Drinking water quality remains exceptionally high

The safety and quality of drinking water in England and Wales remains exceptionally high, a new report has confirmed.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), which is responsible for regulating drinking water quality, has today published its Annual Report for 2015.

Every year water companies carry out millions of tests to check that our tap water complies with all the stringent water quality standards set by European Union and national legislation.

And the latest DWI report reveals that in 2015 99.96 per cent of these standards were passed in England and Wales.

The findings come in the wake of CCWater’s annual Water Matters survey which found that 93 per cent of customers in England – and 98 per cent in Wales – were satisfied with their water supply.

Karen Gibbs, Senior Policy Manager at the Consumer Council for Water, said:

Satisfaction with tap water is very high and the DWI’s report shows consumers have good reason to trust their water supply. Water companies and the DWI deserve credit for maintaining these excellent standards but it’s also clear from the report there is no room for complacency and the industry still faces significant challenges. Companies needs to learn lessons from the findings and aspire to do even better.

Poor plumbing and sub-standard fittings are among the main causes of a deterioration in the quality of drinking water, after it has been transferred from public water mains into private pipes and properties.

That’s why the DWI has also teamed up with WaterSafe opens in new window to encourage households to use nationally registered plumbers that can be trusted to use approved materials when carrying out work.