girl drinking from kitchen sink tap

Tap water in England and Wales remains among the safest in the world, according to the latest report by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).

Every year water companies are required to carry out regular testing of tap water to ensure it adheres to strict water quality standards. The good news for consumers is that overall, 99.95 per cent of these standards were passed in England during 2018, and 99.97 per cent in Wales.

The DWI will be discussing its findings at a number of launch events during the week beginning the 29 July.

The report’s findings are great news for consumers, and gives the public good reason to have confidence when they top up with tap water – important all year round, but especially so during hot weather.

There really is no healthy and cheaper way to stay hydrated and cool during the summer and with the number of Refill locations across the country reaching more than 20,000; it’s now even easier to fill up for free. Invest in a reusable water bottle and download the free Refill App opens in new window to find your nearest hydration station.

Alice Laycock, Policy Manager at the Consumer Council for Water, said: “It is reassuring to see that the quality of our tap water remains exceptionally high and consumers really can have trust in their water supply.”

“During the hot weather especially, it is really important for everyone to keep well hydrated. In the past consumers have told us accessing free tap water while out and about can be difficult, so it’s great to see that the number of refill points have more than doubled over the last 12 months. We’d encourage everyone to take advantage of this, and carry a reusable bottle and refill on the go.”

You can read the full DWI report here opens in new window.