Understanding your water
All drinking water in the UK must meet strict quality standards set by law. These standards ensure your water is safe, clean and pleasant to drink.
In England and Wales, water quality is independently monitored by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).
The DWI reviews the test results from all water companies and checks that we’re meeting the required standards. It also publishes an annual report so customers can understand how companies are performing.
Testing your water
We carry out around 120,000 tests each year on approximately 13,000 samples from across our supply system, from sources and treatment works to customer taps. We consistently achieve more than 99.5% compliance with water quality standards. This means that almost all the water we supply meets the strict requirements set for drinking water in the UK.
Our laboratory is UKAS accredited, which means it meets recognised national standards for quality, accuracy and reliability in testing and reporting.
To understand how water companies perform, including what ratings and results mean, visit the Discover Water website. It provides clear, independent information about water quality, environmental performance and customer service across England and Wales, so you can see how companies are performing with confidence.
The quality of your drinking water
