Tap water tests showed drinking water standards had fallen

Results of annual tests run by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) were revealed on Wednesday.

Chief inspector Professor Jeni Colbourne said quality remained high but the results from 2006 were "not as good" as in the previous year.

One company supplying the area, South East Water, said its scientists ran nearly 150,000 tests in 2006 and found tap water was "top quality".

'Aspects for improvement'

"This was despite the company facing the challenge of maintaining both supplies and water quality standards at the height of one of the worst droughts ever experienced across the South East," David Shore, operations director said.

Professor Colbourne said 99.95% of tap water samples met the required standards - down from 99.97% in 2005.

The meeting of the DWI with Consumer Council for Water Southern heard that in 2006 there were more test failures at treatment works and locations where treated water is stored.

Inspectors said investigations had revealed some weaknesses in water supply management and maintenance, and improvement in these aspects was expected to be a focus for companies.

South East Water supplies water across parts of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.

The DWI's southern area also includes four other water companies - Folkestone and Dover Water, Mid Kent Water, Portsmouth Water, and Southern Water.