The UK's Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and other regulatory agencies elsewhere apply very strict rules to make sure microbial contaminants like bacteria and viruses and chemical contaminants such as metals and pesticides are removed, says Professor Luisa Orsini, professor of evolutionary systems biology and environmental omics at the University of Birmingham.
Claire says she also questioned local water quality after the 2007 flash flooding across Gloucestershire left her and her neighbours without drinking water for three weeks.
In the UK, more than 20% reported being worried, while the latest trust in water survey by regulator OFWAT also showed trust in water companies had dropped to 65% by the end of 2022 - compared with 76% at the beginning of that year.
Last May, a damaged air valve in South West Water's network allowed the parasite cryptosporidium to get into a reservoir near Brixham, Devon - which left many with a diarrhoea bug and 17,000 households without water for eight weeks.
The research, which used 2019 polling data from more than 148,000 people, also found that water concerns were more common among women, people who live in urban areas, those with higher levels of education, and people experiencing financial difficulties.
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