The truth about TAPWATER

Contamination concerns can be scary, so is it really safe to drink?

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When the South West Water contamination scandal hit the headlines last year, the country was shocked. After all, British tap water is said to be some of the best in the world – according to Discover Water, it had a quality rating of 99.96%. So when it was revealed that a parasite had infiltrated home supplies in Brixham, Devon, people were worried. South West Water said that such incidents are ‘very rare’. However, earlier this year, residents in Yorkshire were warned not to drink from their taps over fears of a possible bacteria contamination. So, can we trust what is coming out of the mains supply, or could a glass of water make us sick without warning? Our experts reveal the facts...

What’s in it?

Tap water is an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient way to quench our thirst. Quality is monitored by the independent Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) to ensure it’s clean and safe*. But issues can still occur. ‘While water quality is generally good – certainly compared to many other countries – we still have significant issues,’ says Dr Chris Yates from thewaterprofessor.com. ‘Contamination can come from the supply company, from private supplies or from domestic plumbing and fittings.’

Health concerns

The contamination source for South West Water was a damaged air-valve casing located on private land, which allowed the parasite cryptosporidium to enter the network. It caused sickness and diarrhoea in more than 100 people, and impacted 16,000 homes and businesses. While the damaged section was replaced and a cleaning programme undertaken, customers were still worried.

Rigorous testing