Firm says water safe despite residents' complaints

Residents in York say they continue to face problems with "vile-tasting" tap water despite months of complaints.

People have described the water as "undrinkable", saying it tasted and smelled of chlorine, with some resorting to buying bottled water.

Posting on Facebook, one resident said: "The water is absolutely vile. Run a bath and the whole upstairs smells like a swimming pool."

Yorkshire Water said recent changes to the way the city's water supply was treated may have caused some customers to notice a difference in taste or smell, but insisted it remained safe to drink.

The issue first came to light in August when York Outer MP Luke Charters said residents had contacted him with concerns about the taste and smell of their tap water.

Charters said he had raised those concerns directly with Yorkshire Water and had asked them to investigate.

But three months on and many people said the situation had not improved.

Posting on social media, one resident described how he had bought bottled water, saying the "chlorine smell and taste" had made his tap water undrinkable.

Another resident, who commented under the same post, said: "Been on bottled water for months as it was giving my family [an] upset stomach and god knows what we are actually drinking."

Another poster said the issue had been going on "for ages", saying: "Showering smells like you're in the swimming baths."

The complaints come at a time when the company faces continued scrutiny over its performance and customer service.

Last week, its chief executive Nicola Shaw announced she would step down, just 24 hours after the company was given the lowest possible rating by the Environment Agency.

In response to the complaints in York, a Yorkshire Water said chlorine had always been used to disinfect York's drinking water and its levels were carefully monitored and remained within the normal range.

"We know that minor changes in the taste or odour of drinking water can be concerning for customers and we investigate concerns raised with us," a spokesperson said.

"However, the recent change has not altered the quality or safety of the drinking water supply, which continues to meet our high drinking water standards."