A simple guide to what’s really in your glass…
When you fill a glass from the tap, you probably don’t think about what’s behind it. But every sip of water is the result of careful testing, treatment, and protection. This guide breaks down what water quality really means and why it matters.
What do we mean by Water Quality?
Water quality describes how safe and clean your drinking water is. It includes how it looks, how it tastes, and what it contains.
Here are the main things we look at:
1. Taste and Smell
Water can taste slightly different depending on where it comes from. Some people notice a faint chlorine taste, which is completely safe and helps keep the water free from harmful bacteria.
2. Safety
Tap water is carefully tested for bacteria, metals, and chemicals. We carry out thousands of tests each month to make sure everything is within safe limits.
3. Minerals
Water naturally contains minerals like calcium and magnesium. This is what makes water "hard" or "soft." Hard water isn’t harmful, but it may leave limescale in your kettle or around taps.
4. Clarity
Clean water should be clear. Sometimes, it might look cloudy due to tiny air bubbles. This is common and usually disappears after a few minutes.
5. Source
We get our water supply from underground chalk aquifers (boreholes), rivers, and reservoirs. Each source has its own characteristics, which are treated and balanced before the water reaches your tap. You can learn more about our streams in our supply area here.
How is water tested?
Water is tested throughout its journey, from the source to your tap. We run a programme of over 185,000 tests every year, checking samples from:
- Treatment works.
- Storage facilities.
- Pipes.
- Customer taps.
These tests check for things like chlorine levels, pH, metals, bacteria, and more. Results are sent to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), which makes sure all standards are met.
If something doesn’t look right, action is taken immediately. You’ll be notified if anything ever affects your supply.
Tap water vs bottled water: Which is tested more?
Here’s a fact that surprises many people: tap water is tested far more often than bottled water. While bottled water might only be tested weekly or monthly, tap water is tested daily, and in far more places.
In fact, Affinity Water alone conducts more than 500 individual tests every day.
Why does Water Quality matter?
- Keeps you safe and healthy.
- Makes water taste better.
- Helps protect your appliances.
- Reduces the need for bottled water, which is better for the environment.
The bottom line
Water quality is about more than taste; it’s about safety, reliability, and trust.
Behind every glass of water are thousands of tests and a team of experts making sure it’s clean and safe for you to drink.
To learn more, visit affinitywater.co.uk/water-quality