Water works

Thanks to dramatic improvements in the quality of the

's drinking water over the past 15 years or so we now enjoy some of the best water in the world.

Privatisation of the industry in 1989 and pressure from the EU's Drinking Water Directive have played a major part in this success, but technically the improvement has been achieved by investment in a combination of wastewater management technologies and improvement of the UK's often ancient water distribution network.

Independent water/wastewater consultant Chris Binnie said: 'Until about 15 years ago the UK standard was only wholesome, as defined by the World Health Organisation.' Wholesome seems to equate to passable — perhaps explaining the boom in bottled water sales between the 1980s and 1990s.

'Pre-privatisation, the water boards spent approximately £1bn a year on treatment and management, but since the sell-off, the investment by the utility companies has risen to about £3bn,' he said. Naturally, to pay for these improvements water bills have increased.