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 2005.

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 99.96%. The number of failed samples from the region was just 4 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. In this day and age when Health professionals place great emphasis on the health benefits of drinking plenty of tap water, it means a lot to have a rubber stamp of approval from the DWI, the ‘Guardians of Drinking Water’.”

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. 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.”