Tap water trumps bottled water in Severn Trent survey

More than 50 per cent of Severn Trent customers in Stoke prefer tap water rather than bottled water, according to the results of a public taste test

Severn Trent gathered customers’ views on drinking water and will use the information to shape its business plan for 2015-20, which will outline the future of its water and wastewater services. 

The water firm asked customers to try two different types of water, tap and bottled, and select their preferred choice. Severn Trent said more than 50 per cent preferred tap water or couldn’t tell the difference. 

Rob Salmon, head of communications, Severn Trent said the results were encouraging because tap water is cheaper. 

“While this is about half-and-half with bottled water, I think the key thing here is the price, as tap water is certainly a lot cheaper. In fact, it costs our customers an average of 92 pence a day for us to provide all the water they use and take their waste water away – that’s less than the average cost for a litre of bottled water,” he said. 

The company also gathered information on water quality, leakage, sewer flooding and protecting rivers. 

“It is important whilst we’re shaping our plan that customer’s views remain at the heart of what we’re doing. So whether they believe reducing leakage should be a priority or preventing sewer flooding should be top of the list, or actually none of that matters, as long as they continue to have the lowest bills, then we want to hear from them,” Salmon added.