Region's drinking water improves

The report by the Drinking Water Inspectorate shows that breaches in water quality in the Northumbrian Water area are at their lowest level for more than a decade.

Almost 207,000 sample tests were taken last year from drinking water with only 183 failing to meet stringent standards. This represents the largest number of samples and the lowest number of breaches since 1991.

Northumbrian Water supplies water to homes in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Cleveland, and parts of North Yorkshire.

Dr Peter Marsden, DWI's Inspector for the North East, said: "We are delighted that the improvements seen over the last decade in the quality of drinking water continues to improve.

"The continued improvement is good news for consumers as it proves that we still have very high quality, affordable and healthy water delivered to our homes.

"But there is no place for complacency because one incident can have significant effects on public health.

"The water industry needs to remain vigilant and we shall remain rigorous in our inspection regime to ensure that the quality of water in the North East continues to improve."

The Drinking Water Inspectorate was formed in 1990 to check that the newly privatised water companies provide safe drinking water and comply with the regulations.

It is currently overseeing changes in standards concerning lead in water being brought in following a review by the World Health Organisation and legislation from the European Union.

By next year the acceptable level must stand at 25 micrograms per litre and has to be further reduced by 2013 to ten micrograms. The current UK standard is 50 micrograms of lead per litre of water.

Small quantities of lead can be dissolved into the water supply via lead pipes in old properties which are gradually being replaced.

Ninety seven per cent of tests last year in the Northumbrian Water area already met the 25mg standard and 92 per cent the 10mg standard.