Adam's Ale was the tipple of the moment as a brewery took beer off the menu to celebrate Yorkshire's clean water.

Water samples from around Yorkshire were on tap at the York Brewery in Toft Green to help launch the annual report of the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

The report lists tap water quality across Yorkshire and the Humber for 2000 - and showed Yorkshire's drinking water was the best ever.

The findings from the independent water quality watchdog revealed that last year 99.89 per cent of samples taken in the region, covered by Yorkshire Water, complied with all the stringent health-related standards required under European and UK law.

Chuck Firlotte, Yorkshire Water's director of water business, said: "This is great news and illustrates the continuous improvement in water quality.

"A total of 273,309 samples were taken - that's more than 700 everyday - and of those 99.89 per cent complied with the regulations.

"Over the last few years we have invested hundreds of millions of pounds on upgrading and improving treatment works and the mains network. And the good news is this significant programme of investment is to continue."

Yorkshire Water supplies drinking water to 4.7 million customers and last year an average of 1,257 million litres of water a day were produced from 121 water treatment works. This water is then stored in 432 service water reservoirs or water towers before being used by customers.

Updated: 09:19 Wednesday, July 11, 2001