Water Testing

Overview

The Triennial and Annual Drinking Water reports published by the Chief Inspector have shown that the industry figure for public water supply compliance with the regulations is well above 99.9% which indicates that the drinking water supply in England and Wales is excellent.

Mains Water

If you have concerns about the quality of your tap water, you should first approach your water supplier and explain the problem to them. If you are unsure who your water supplier is, you can find out by entering your postcode on the Water UK website. Companies will normally take a sample in response to a complaint from a consumer depending on the nature of it. Additionally, they test water daily in your area and will give you the results free of charge on request. This is also available on many water company websites.

Water company samplers are trained to ensure that samples are representative of the water in supply, and not contaminated by aspects such as the kitchen tap or collection vessel which may not be fully sterile. Water company sampling techniques are accredited, and independently verified, and it is a statutory requirement that samples are representative of the water in supply.

Private Water Supplies

Your local authority will provide advice on any testing and arrange for this to be carried out on your behalf. If you are unsure who your local authority is, please visit the GOV UK website.

Private Testing

Should you conduct water testing privately, samples should be collected, transported and analysed using an accredited method and by a trained individual to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results. You can find your nearest approved laboratory by visiting the UKAS website.