It is clean, fresh, easily available, costs next to nothing and has been voted the best in Southampton.
Tap water has come up trumps over bottled water in a Daily Echo blind tasting test.
People were asked to sample ordi nary tap water, a well-known brand of bottled water and a cheaper super market version and four out of ten people preferred the tap water supplied by Southern Water.
Ten members of the public in Southampton took part in the taste test with 40 per cent opting for the tap water, 30 per cent for the 17p Sainsbury's own brand and 20 per cent for the well- known Evian at 72p for two litres.
One person expressed no pref erence.
The survey was carried out after the Daily Echo revealed that expert tasters found 99.91 per cent of Southern Water's supplies were first class.
Jo Osborn, of Southern Water said: "Our tap water is among the best in Europe and we con tinue to invest in new plant, technol ogy and pipework to ensure it stays that way."
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