Best Ever Tap Water From South Staffs Water Company

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE WATER PLC; BEST EVER TAP WATER QUALITY
The Drinking Water Inspectorate, the independent tap water watchdog, today announced figures showing that the quality of tap water for South Staffordshire Water has achieved an all time high for 2004.

99.99% of tests carried out last year, on samples from people’s homes, offices, factories and public buildings, passed the DWIs exacting standards. The quality of South Staffs tap water is among Britains best, against a national average pass rate of 99.94%. The number of failed samples from the region was just 9 out of over 34,000 tests carried out annually.

The Director of Water Quality, Dr Mike Turrell, said:

“South Staffs Water are pleased that the Company’s quality performance has achieved the highest level yet. The high level of achievement is due to £20m of investment in water treatment processes over the past 6 years. However, the Company is aware that given the nature of taking samples from customers’ houses that compliance is not entirely within the Company’s control.”

Phil Bateman, Chairman of the South Staffs Water Customer Consultative Committee, said:

“South Staffordshire Water are pleased to report the best ever year for drinking water quality, as independently assessed by the DWI. The Company believes that such an achievement is down to investment in robust treatment processes, together with effective maintenance of the distribution pipe work, associated with timely provision of customer information. Going forward the challenge will be to maintain such a high level as they reach the point of balance between additional benefit to customers against the additional cost.”