This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Report shows improvement in drinking water
09/08/2006
The Drinking Water Quality Regulator's (DWQR) annual report was published today.
It shows that 99.56 percent of over 150,000 samples taken from customers' taps over the last year met strict European standards. That's compared to 99.42 percent in 2004.
However, the DWQR report also highlights a slight increase (0.09 percent) in the levels of bacteria found in tap samples.
Commenting on the findings of his first annual report as DWQR, Colin McLaren said:
"Overall, Scotland has good, safe, high quality drinking water and I am pleased to report that in 2005 Scottish Water continued to build on improvements made in 2004.
"However, consumer expectations are also high and many of the complaints received by Scottish Water are about the aesthetic quality of the water flowing from our taps.
"Of the 22,500 drinking water quality complaints received by Scottish Water last year, 86 percent related to the appearance of the water.
"Consumers have come to expect that the public drinking water supply is safe, what I want to see now is Scottish Water addressing public perceptions of drinking water by improving its colour and taste.
"Ministers have also tasked Scottish Water with improving drinking water quality and agreed how they will go about achieving this in their Delivery Plan. I look forward to seeing further improvements over the coming years."
Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin welcomed the progress but echoed calls from the DWQR for Scottish Water to make sure their water tastes and looks good:
"This report shows that Scotland's water industry is continuing to make encouraging progress in raising standards and that the water in our taps is wholesome.
"However, it is important to customers that the product they are receiving also looks good enough to drink.
"The DWQR's report details the number of complaints about drinking water quality made to Scottish Water for the first time. It shows that an overwhelming number of the objections they received in the last year are about the appearance of tap water.
"I am confident that Scottish Water will direct its energies on meeting consumer expectations as well as achieving its other targets through the implementation of its delivery plan.
"I would like to thank the DWQR, Colin McLaren for producing such a comprehensive report and look forward to seeing his recommendations put into practice to deliver cleaner, safer and healthier drinking water for everyone in Scotland."
Background
Drinking Water Quality in Scotland 2005 contains a summary of the results of 345,761 tests undertaken by Scottish Water on samples from water treatment works, service reservoirs and consumer taps. These are presented for Scotland as a whole and by local authority area.
The Drinking Water Quality Regulator monitors drinking water quality in Scotland for Scottish Ministers. He operates independently of Ministers. The role was created in 2002 with duties and powers to obtain information, entry and enforcement set out in the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.
This year's report details the number of complaints about drinking water quality made by the public to Scottish Water for the first time.
A copy of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland 2005 will be available for download on the DWQR website www.dwqr.org.uk .
Scottish Water is a public corporation created in April 2002 from the merger of the three former water authorities: North of Scotland, West of Scotland and East of Scotland Water Authorities.
Scottish Water is the fourth largest water utility in the UK.