We’re committed to supplying you with high quality drinking water that meets some of the highest standards in the world. We make it our mission to ensure that this high quality is maintained – from source to tap – by working with landowners to protect our water sources and operating our treatment works to purify your water. Changes in the source of your water, treatment processes and water mains, pipes and domestic plumbing can lead to variations in the taste, odour, and appearance of your water.
1. Water sources
The source of your water can affect its quality. 60% of our water comes from groundwater sources; because of this, our region has naturally occurring hard to very hard water, due to soft rainwater picking up minerals like calcium and magnesium as it passes through the chalk aquifer. Water that seeps through the chalk aquifer requires a less intensive treatment process because the chalk acts a natural filter. Conversely, surface water needs more treatment than groundwater, as the water isn’t naturally as clean.
2. Water treatment
How we treat your water can also affect its quality. We use ultraviolet filtration and add a small amount of chlorine to kill harmful bacteria. The smell of chlorine might be more noticeable if the water has warmed up, it’s been standing in your pipes overnight or when we need to change your water supply to help protect water quality across our network. If you're sensitive to chlorine and notice a slight taste or odour in your water, we suggest cooling your water by filling a jug and placing it in your fridge. This allows the chlorine to disperse, and the taste and odour will improve.
3. Pipework
Additionally, the composition of your pipes, both on our network and in your home, can affect the quality of your water. Brown water is usually caused by iron in your water supply and can be a result of iron sediment being disturbed due to ongoing work on the water mains in your area. Likewise, water may appear blue or taste metallic where household pipes are made from metal such as copper, as small amounts can dissolve into the water.
Tips for maintaining good water quality at home
Here are some practical tips for maintaining good water quality at home:
- Keep taps clean – regularly wipe around taps and fittings to stop limescale and bacteria from building up.
- Run the tap if it hasn’t been used – if you’ve been away or a tap hasn’t been used for a while, let it run for a couple of minutes to flush the pipes.
- Maintain your plumbing – Use a WaterSafe approved plumber to prevent contaminants from entering your water supply.
Our commitment to quality
Our teams work around the clock to make sure that your water is safe to drink, from our production sites, right through to your taps. We commit to testing your water daily, and last year carried out 9,500 customer visits, collected 70,000 samples and ran 975,000 total tests. For more information on water quality, please visit our water quality pages.