We launched a programme to invest £1.6 million to ‘flush’ 1,266km of water mains over the next three years to ensure we continue to supply safe, quality drinking water. Flushing helps to remove build-ups of iron deposits, which can lead to discoloured water.

During 2010, we carried out 201,939 water quality tests to report to the Drinking Water Inspectorate. Our scientists tested for more than 100 substances in samples taken from 95 water treatment works, 237 service reservoirs and from household taps.

We also carried out more than 200,000 additional tests to measure samples against our own standards, which are more stringent than those set by our regulators. This included taste tests at our water treatment works and at customer taps.

Our excellent water quality met the standards enforced by the Drinking Water Inspectorate in 99.92 per cent of cases.