Not surprised the dogs won’t drink it, such a quantity of chlorine and ammonia isn’t particularly nice. The Malaysian tap water was like this in some areas, it was like quaffing diluted bleach (which was essentially the case)

I also suspect the EU directive is because of dodgy plumbing practices in other EU countries (which are forbidden in the UK) which can cause foul water to contaminate the drinking water mains when water pressure fluctuates in the summer!

shows how much we take clean water for granted though….

Tap water ‘even snubbed by dogs’
Residents in a Sutherland village have claimed the water quality is so bad even the animals refuse to drink it. Since Scottish Water began treating the tap water with chlorine and ammonia, people in Skerray have protested saying it is not fit for consumption.

Although there is no direct link, there has been an increase in skin complaints and residents said dogs and even cattle were turning their noses up at it.

Scottish Water defended the process, insisting the water is safe to drink.

The complaints surfaced after an EU directive forced a £25m upgrade of the water supply along the north coast.

Residents living near the end of a new 50 mile pipeline in Skerray have continued to protest over the quality of the water which is treated with chloramines – a mixture of chlorine and ammonia.

Scottish Water said the combination of chemicals was more effective at killing harmful bacteria and that the water quality complied with strict regulations.

Some of the residents have resorted to using a local spring for their supplies.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/4719573.stm

Published: 2005/07/26 21:28:38 GMT

© BBC MMV