Tap water quality under scrutiny from watchdog

Water companies’ efforts to make sure tap water is always safe to drink will be scrutinised when the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) meets at Newcastle University on Thursday (26 October).

The water watchdog is putting drinking water quality under the spotlight at its meeting in public after North West of England supplier United Utilities was fined £300,000 earlier this month for contaminated supplies.

United Utilities will explain what action it is taking to restore customers’ trust in the wake of the water quality incident, which led to 700,000 consumers in Lancashire having to boil water used for drinking or food preparation in August 2015.

Robert Light, Northern Chair of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Incidents like the one in Lancashire are rare but they can damage consumers’ trust.”

“United Utilities has learned lessons and it is important these are now shared with other water companies. It is vital that companies work together to make sure our tap water is always safe to drink.”

The region’s other suppliers, including Northumbrian Water, Yorkshire Water and Hartlepool Water, will all be present at the meeting where consumers will also have the chance to put their questions to CCWater or their water company.

The meeting will take place at 12.30pm in the Research Bee Hive Room, Old Library Building, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU.

If you would like to attend, or if you have any questions, please email [email protected]

For more information or to arrange an interview call the CCWater media team on 0121 345 1005.