Council pledges full testing after year-long dispute over tap water safety
Westminster City Council has apologised to residents on the Lillington and Longmoor Gardens Estate in Pimlico following an incident in April 2025 when tap water at Morgan House reportedly turned brown and emitted a petrol‑type smell. At a meeting on 7 July this year, officers committed to sending a formal letter of apology to all tenants and to testing all relevant water supplies to confirm whether the water is safe to drink.
Residents say the episode, and the response to it, has left many too concerned to use their taps. Several tenants previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they had experienced foul‑smelling water for at least two months in mid‑2025 and reported skin irritation and itchiness during that period.
Residents challenge response and raise testing concerns
Tenants have argued the initial response did not match the seriousness of a suspected hydrocarbon odour. One resident, Ernest Stafford, speaking after the 7 July meeting, said:
"No resident should ever smell a petrol‑type substance in their tap water. Industry guidance says any hydrocarbon odour should trigger an immediate investigation. Instead, residents spent a year doing the work themselves - we had to become Erin Brockovich while being blocked and brushed aside. The housing function wasn't equipped to deal with such an incident: the councillor responsible lacked the experience, officers didn't follow guidance or established due diligence, and Stuart Love, the [Westminster City Council] CEO, didn't intervene."
Throughout the dispute, the council repeatedly indicated it believed the source of the problem lay with the Thames Water supply. The company, however, stated that tests of the incoming water to the building showed no issues. Residents also reported that hot water taps were affected during the incident. The council has said that statutory pH tests on the hot water plant room supply returned normal results, though pH testing alone would not detect the presence of hydrocarbons.
What the council has now promised
At the 7 July meeting, officers agreed to two immediate steps:
- Issue a formal apology letter to all residents of Morgan House.
- Carry out testing on all relevant water supplies connected to the building to determine safety for drinking.
The commitments come after repeated calls from tenants for a fuller investigation into both cold and hot water systems within the building, alongside scrutiny of earlier testing methods that would not have identified fuel‑type contaminants.
Responsibilities and the road ahead
While water quality is a regulated area, the practical boundaries between a building’s internal systems and the incoming mains can complicate incident response. Utilities typically test the supply up to the point of entry, while landlords and managing agents oversee internal plant and distribution within estates. The Pimlico case has underscored how disputes can arise over where a fault originates, and how quickly more specialised testing should be deployed when unusual odours or discolouration are reported.
Residents at Morgan House have asked for assurance that future incidents will trigger immediate, proportionate investigations that include tests capable of detecting hydrocarbons where relevant. The council’s apology and testing pledge are an attempt to restore confidence after a prolonged period during which tenants say their concerns were not fully addressed.
Timeline of key events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2025 | Residents at Morgan House report brown, petrol‑smelling tap water. |
| June 2025 | Tenants tell reporters they have endured foul water for at least two months; some report skin irritation. |
| Mid‑2025 | Council suggests issue relates to Thames Water supply; Thames Water says incoming supply tests show no problems. |
| 7 July 2026 | Council officers promise a formal apology to residents and agree to test all relevant water supplies. |
What residents say they need next
Beyond the apology, tenants have sought clarity on testing scope, timescales and transparency of results. They have also asked for clear escalation routes should unusual odours or discolouration recur, including the use of testing methods that can detect hydrocarbons rather than relying solely on pH readings.
The council’s pledged actions will now be judged on delivery and communication. For tenants at Morgan House, confidence is likely to depend on how swiftly the additional testing is undertaken and how clearly the findings are shared. Thames Water has maintained that its tests on the incoming supply showed no issues; the council’s review of internal systems will therefore be central to resolving what happened within the building.
InfoRadar will continue to monitor the promised testing programme and any updates from Westminster City Council and residents on the Lillington and Longmoor Gardens Estate.
