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In 2003 the water companies in England and Wales carried out approximately 2.9 m tests on drinking water samples of which 99.88 per cent passed.

The tests which failed were each assessed. Some were not important in terms of health or were unlikely to happen again, so no further action was needed. Some failures were to be rectified by improvements already underway at treatment works and in the distribution systems operated by water companies. The Drinking Water Inspectorate required the water companies to deal with any remaining failures by committing to immediate improvements.

Problems with your water supply?

Although drinking water in England and Wales is generally of a very high quality you may now and again have a problem with your drinking water. It should be clear and bright. If it looks cloudy or discoloured or tastes different or smells funny then, you should contact your water company. Enquiry and emergency numbers are listed under 'Water' in your telephone directory.

If you are unhappy with the water company's response then you can contact either of the following:

• your local Consumer Council for Water listed under 'Consumer organisations' in your telephone directory
• the environmental health department of your local council
• the Drinking Water Inspectorate

If your drinking water is not supplied by a water company then you should contact the environmental health department of your local council regarding any problems.

If you would like to find out more about your area's water quality you can ask to look at your water company's public record. You can see the record at one of the company's offices. Customer services staff will explain the result of tests and tell you what is being done to rectify any failures. You are entitled to a free copy of the record for the area in which you live. Alternatively, you can write to the company for details.

More useful links

• Find your local council
• Find out more about the water quality in your area Opens new window
• Find out what can be found in drinking water Opens new window
• Find here contact details for the Drinking Water Inspectorate Opens new window
• More information on drinking water from the Drinking Water Inspectorate Opens new window
• Consumer Council for Water Opens new window