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Message last updated - Tuesday 20th April 2021
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Message last updated - Tuesday 20th April 2021
Message last updated - Tuesday 20th April 2021
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50% from rivers and reservoirs
Half the drinking water we supply comes from rivers and reservoirs in our region. It passes through complex treatment processes to make it safe to drink.
50% from underground sources
The rest of our water comes from underground water sources. These generally need less treatment than water from rivers or reservoirs.
Protecting water sources
We take water from hundreds of boreholes and more than a dozen rivers and are committed to working with other organisations to carefully manage these river and groundwater catchment areas. This is particularly important in the Anglian Water region, where agriculture, food and drink production has such a vital role in our regional economy.
We encourage farmers - who use fertilisers and pesticides to improve yields and protect crops against pest damage - to use their chemicals responsibly and keep them out of groundwater and river water sources.
Rising nitrate levels in surface water run-off and small amounts of pesticide compounds in water sourced from boreholes and rivers however, present us with a number of challenges.
We address these challenges by protecting and improving the quality of water in rivers and groundwater at source, reducing the need for expensive, energy intensive treatment processes.
How we treat the water
We supply over a billion litres of safe drinking water every day. How we treat raw water entering our water treatment works depends on the quality of the water source. Many underground supplies from boreholes are so clean we only need to add a small amount of chlorine to make them safe. Other underground water sources, and all river and reservoir water, need more complex treatment.
Ground Water
Surface water
Your drinking water
We store the water we supply to our millions of our customers in water towers and service reservoirs across our region. This means we always have supplies of water on standby, ready for times when demand is particularly high.
To move water around, we make use of gravity where we can. Our water towers help, but to keep water pressure constant in this mainly flat region, we pump water through thousands of kilometres of water mains.
Keep water healthy
Before it gets to your tap, your drinking water is cleaned, disinfected and tested. However, sometimes it can get contaminated within your home.
Find out how to keep your water healthy and your supply at its very best – sparkling clean and healthy!