The Birmingham tap water quality can be quite a conversation starter. Of course, everyone living and working in the UK’s second city knows all about the Birmingham tap water and how good it is, but millions of the city’s tourists who visit each year are surprised at how good it really is. But why? Here, we’ll give an overview of the Birmingham tap water, where it comes from, how it’s treated, and whether it meets the high standards needed to make it safe to drink – and everything else you need to know about the water in this area.

Where does Birmingham’s tap water come from?

With no reservoirs or other water sources to call their own, where does the Birmingham tap water come from? Well, bizarrely, the water running from taps in every home and business in the city doesn't come from any nearby or local sources. In fact, the water comes in from another country. But don't panic, it’s not that far away because the country is Wales.

Severn Trent Water actually delivers Birmingham tap water directly from the reservoirs of the Elan Valley near Rhayader via Victorian aqueducts over 70 miles away. Taking a day and a half to reach the West Midlands city, the water comes from a pollution-free region and goes through a natural filtration process along the way, giving it the soft, pure quality everyone knows and loves.

How is Birmingham tap water treated?

Just like every water supplier in the UK, Severn Trent has a commitment to providing high-quality tap water for every Birmingham business and home, meeting all the right standards and regulations. These requirements cover chemicals, microorganisms, and quality of colour, clarity, and taste. They also cover every stage of the water treatment process before distribution, which includes:

1. Abstraction – to take the water from river to reservoir
2. Clarification – to remove larger particles and suspended solids
3. Filtration – to remove smaller contaminants
4. Carbon adsorption - to remove organic compounds or chemicals
5. Disinfection – adding chlorine to remove harmful microorganisms

After this treatment, the water is classed as soft because it contains fewer minerals like calcium and magnesium, making it less likely to leave limescale deposits and importantly, more enjoyable to drink.

Is Birmingham tap water safe to drink?

Yes, the Birmingham tap water quality means it's 100% safe to drink. As an industry-leading water company, Severn Trent Water monitors the water quality and carries out more than 500,000 tests each year, giving them a 99.98% compliance rate. So whether you're at home, in the office, or just visiting this great city, you can trust that Birmingham tap water is both safe and clean for everyone to drink every day of the year.

Quality water delivered direct to you from Thirsty Work

The Birmingham tap water quality is excellent and is well-known and well-loved, thanks to its soft water quality and great, natural taste. But if you live or work outside of Birmingham and still want to get the same benefits of high-quality, great-tasting soft water for your home or office, why not look into installing a mains-fed water cooler with an advanced filtration system that removes all impurities or a bottled water cooler that uses natural, pure-filtered spring water from Thirsty Work?

To find out more, call 01392 877 172 or email hello@thirstywork.com today. You can get your free quote, or start your no-obligation, 10-day free trial and set up your home or office today with deliveries direct from the Walsall depot of one of the best water dispenser suppliers in the Midlands