WATER quality in the region has improved again, figures published by the leading independent watchdog reveal today.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate's (DWI) 14th annual report shows that tap water quality in the North-East and North Yorkshire has continued to rise.

Tests were taken at private homes, water treatment plants, reservoirs and dozens of other locations throughout last year.

Last year, 99.92 per cent of tests carried out by Northumbrian Water and 99.81 per cent of Hartlepool Water's checks met the relevant UK and EU standards.

Those figures were topped by the Yorkshire region, where 99.95 per cent of tests were favourable, bettering the national average of 99.88 per cent.

Water companies reacted to the figures with delight last night, saying continued investment was crucial to the success.

DWI North-East inspector, Dr Peter Marsden, announced the regional figures at the Broken Scar plant, in Darlington, where he checked Northumbrian Water's efforts to renovate the pipe network.

The company carried out 198,193 tests and only 157 failed to meet the required standards. Hartlepool Water did 2,694 checks, with only five not passing the test.

The figures represented the region's lowest number of failures since the DWI was established in 1990.

Dr Marsden said: "Drinking water in the North-East remains very high because of the robust regulatory regime.

"Although there were fewer failures there were also fewer samples taken by Northumbrian Water and, as a consequence, the percentage compliance decreased slightly."

He added: "Many of the failures are for iron, which arises from rusty old pipes.

"Northumbrian Water has an extensive programme to renovate its old pipes and one of the tasks of the DWI is to check that the programme is progressing satisfactorily."

Sue Mitchell, of Northumbrian Water, said: "On average, a person in the region uses 148 litres of water every day at a cost of 28 pence - that is good value for money."

She said the figures were a result of more than £20m being invested in renewing 384km of water main last year.

In Yorkshire, 262,718 tests were undertaken and 137 failed to meet standards.

Test sites included the Flamingo Land theme park and the National Railway Museum, in York.

Richard Flint, of Yorkshire Water, said: "Over a 12-month period, more than a quarter of a million tests were carried out on our water and this year's results are the best ever."

The firm renovated 677km of the 31,000km network of mains for which it is responsible last year