A report published today by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR) confirms the overall quality of drinking water in Scotland has continued to improve. The regulator confirms that the “overall quality of the public supply in Scotland is now very high.”

The DWQR reports that in 2006 Scottish Water took 170,552 tests on samples from customer taps of which 99.66% complied with the relevant standard. This compares with 99.56% in 2005 and 99.42 percent in 2004. The 2006 report highlights the fact that microbiological compliance was the highest since drinking water quality regulations were introduced in 1991. There was also an improvement in compliance for most other parameters including iron, colour and trihalomethanes.

Richard Allan, Scottish Water’s chief scientist said: “Today’s report confirms the long term improvement in the quality of tap water across the country in our continued drive to protect public health.  Significant investment is planned for the next three years which will allow us, under the guidance of the Drinking Water Quality Regulator, to continue to improve the country’s tap water.

“This includes investment in new pipes and water treatment plants that will improve the taste of water for many of our customers. Balancing the need to protect public health by adding chlorine with the need to minimise taste is a constant challenge.  We are improving the control mechanism in many locations to refine this technology. ”

In the next three years Scottish Water will invest more than £500 million in a range of improvements to upgrade water supplies serving 1.5 million people in Scotland. This means investment at 187 water treatment works and operational solutions at a further 84 other works.