A York MP has said he is "disappointed" that residents continue to face issues with their tap water – almost three months after he reported the issue.
Luke Charters said several residents contacted him "about their tap water tasting or smelling strongly of chlorine" and he reported the matter to Yorkshire Water on August 6, but "there doesn't seem to have been much improvement since".
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said it "made some small changes to the way we treat York's water supply network", which has resulted in some of its customers noticing a "slight difference in the taste or smell of their drinking water".
But they insisted York's tap water remains safe to drink, adding: "Chlorine is an essential part of the water treatment process and has always been used to disinfect drinking water supplied to York.
"Chlorine concentrations within the York supply area are carefully controlled, continuously monitored and remain within the normal range expected for a public water supply.
"We know that minor changes in the taste or odour of drinking water can be concerning for customers and we investigate concerns raised with us.
"However, the recent change has not altered the quality or safety of the drinking water supply, which continues to meet our high drinking water standards."
Residents across York have reported turning to bottled water and using water filters due to the issue.
Mr Charters said he understood Yorkshire Water must "treat our drinking water and that chlorine plays an important role in keeping it safe".
But the Labour MP for York Outer said: "[Yorkshire Water] need to be much more proactive and upfront with people, particularly when changes might affect the taste or smell of their water.
"Otherwise, it just causes unnecessary worry and confusion, with more people contacting Yorkshire Water for answers, putting even more pressure on their systems.
"Yorkshire Water encourages customers to report these issues through its website, but frankly, the process isn't particularly straightforward. And when people do report a problem, they don't always feel confident that someone will get back to them, let alone come out and investigate.
"I first raised these concerns directly with Yorkshire Water on August 6, and I'm disappointed that there doesn't seem to have been much improvement since.
"People just want reassurance that their water is safe to drink and an honest explanation of why it might suddenly taste or smell different. That really shouldn't be too much to ask."
The issue comes after Yorkshire Water's chief executive, Nicola Shaw, resigned on Friday (October 30), the day after the company was given the lowest possible environmental rating following a rise in pollution incidents.
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said its environmental performance last year was "not good enough and we understand that customers will be disappointed".
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