WATER on tap in Kent is at least as good as the bottled stuff, according to a quality watchdog. The Drinking Water Inspectorate, the privatised regulator, said that drinking water in Kent and Medway had never been better.

It praised Southern Water, Mid Kent Water and Folkestone and Dover Water Services for raising standards to such high levels.

Out of 75,000 samples taken in the past year from Southern Water, only 80 were found to be below standard. A near-perfect 99.89 per cent met the standard.

There was a similar story in areas supplied by Mid Kent Water (99.86 per cent from 27,000 samples) and Folkestone and Dover Water Services (99.95 per cent from 7,400).

The overall figure for England and Wales was 99.86 per cent from 2.8 million samples.

The DWI unveiled its local findings at The Flagship Brewery in Chatham Historic Dockyard. The eight-year old micro brewery uses 180 gallons of water for every brew. Andrew Purcell, head brewer and company director, said water quality was vital.

He was very happy with the quality of water supplied to the brewery. “Whenever there’s a problem, people always put the blame on someone else,” he said. “They will say that it’s the malt or the hops but if you can rely on the water, that’s one less problem you’ve got to worry about.”

James Foster is one 18 DWI inspectors operating nationwide. They carry out spot checks on water supplies from source through treatment works and into the distribution system.

Dr Foster, who was formerly a water company treatment manager, sampled Flagship’s finest brew before paying tribute to the co-operation of the water companies.

He said consumers could be totally confident about drinking tap water. It was now at least as good if not better than bottled mineral water.

“A lot of people drink mineral water by choice but there’s no health reason not to drink tap water,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of blind tests with different brands of mineral water and tap water, and even experienced laboratory testers can’t tell the difference - and a lot of them prefer tap water.”

He added: “Because tap water is very safe and other sources of water are better marketed, people tend to think they must be safer than tap water whereas the tap water is at least as good, if not better.”

On the controversial question of lead pipes, DWI chief inspector Michael Rouse said the county’s suppliers had made “particularly impressive steps in minimising the pick-up of lead from lead pipes.

“This is also good news for consumers as it should ensure lower costs and less disruption as the need for replacement of pipes will be much reduced.”

He added: “Our report’s findings show that the strict regulatory regime in which the water companies have operated since 1990 are reaping rewards.

“The findings in the region mirror results of tests across the country that have demonstrated year-on-year improvements in the quality of drinking water for England and Wales.”