A Complete Guide to Utilities in Farnham Common
If you just moved and have some questions about Farnham Common? Our complete guide to utilities in Farnham Common will help you to find out everything you need to know about broadband, area codes, power generation and energy distributors, and Farnham Common water and sewerage. Keep reading to learn everything about utilities in Farnham Common.
About Farnham Common, Berkshire
Farnham Common SL2 has a population of 5,905 and is located in the county of Berkshire. Berkshire has a population of 915,157 people.
Who supplies my water in Farnham Common?
Farnham Common water utilities are supplied by Affinity Water. Here are the main contact numbers for Affinity Water, and Thames Water:
How to reach your water providers in Farnham Common
Calling a phone number for Affinity Water or Thames Water is one of many options to discuss your Farnham Common water account.
Affinity Water contact numbers
In the table below we have listed the main contact numbers for Affinity Water general enquiries and emergencies.
| Affinity Water phone number | Affinity Water Emergency phone number |
|---|---|
| 0345 357 2401 | 0345 357 2407 |
| Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-2pm, Emergencies 24/7/365 | |
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Thames Water contact numbers
In the table below we have listed the main contact numbers for Thames Water general enquiries and emergencies.
| Thames Water phone number | Thames Water Emergency phone number |
|---|---|
| 0800 980 8800 | 0800 714 614 |
| Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Emergencies 24/7/365 | |
Write to Affinity Water or Thames Water
You can also get in touch with Affinity Water or Thames Water, either by email or with a letter in the post. You can also send your request via the Affinity Water or Thames Water website.
Affinity Water
Customer that want to post a letter to Affinity Water can do so by writing to the Affinity Water address below:
| Affinity Water Address | |
|---|---|
| Tamblin Way Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9EZ |
|
Thames Water
Customer that want to post a letter to Thames Water can do so by writing to the Thames Water address below:
| Thames Water Address | |
|---|---|
| Thames Water Customer Services, PO Box 234 Swindon SN38 3TW |
|
Customers that would rather email Thames Water, you should use the following email address:
| Thames Water Email Address |
|---|
| customer.feedback@thameswater.co.uk |
Cost of water in Farnham Common
Water rates in Farnham Common are based on if your home has a water meter or not. It's easy to find out if your Farnham Common water rates are metered or not by looking at a recent water bill or by speaking to the supplier. Homes with metered Farnham Common water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills.
Metered Customers in Farnham Common
Customers with a water meter at their Farnham Common house will pay an annual fixed charge, plus an additional charge for each cubic meter (m3) that is consumed. The fixed charge is to cover the essential running costs of Affinity Water or Thames Water. Whilst the variable charges are for the consumption at your Farnham Common home.
Unmetered Customers in Farnham Common
Customers that don't have a water meter at their Farnham Common home have an annual charge for their water consumption. This charge is fixed, meaning you'll pay the same no matter how much water you use at your Farnham Common home.
Water rates for unmetered customers in Farnham Common is going to be based on the rateable value of your home. The rateable value of your Farnham Common water prices were determined by the local council in the 90s and will probably not have changed since then.
Should I get a water meter installed?
That depends on how much water you consume. If you have a small family, or live alone, installing a water meter at your Farnham Common could be cheaper.
Customers with bigger families that use more water will probably not benefit by getting a water meter installed.
How much is the average water bill in Farnham Common?
The average water bill Farnham Common residents are being charged can differ between suppliers in your area. The table below shows the average water bill by supplier:
| Supplier | Average Monthly Water Bill | Average Water Bill Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity Water | £16.67 | £200 |
| Thames Water | £19.33 | £232 |
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How do I pay my Farnham Common water bill?
You will first need to register with Affinity Water or Thames Water. After you register your details with Affinity Water or Thames Water, you will be offered a choice of payment options such as:
- Direct Debit
- Online payments
- Pay over the phone
- Bank transfer
- Payment by cheque
- Payment card
You may be able to choose how often you pay your Farnham Common bill. Whilst some customers prefer to make a single annual payment, other customers might want to settle for quarterly, monthly, or even weekly payments instead. When you set up your Affinity Water or Thames Water account, you will be able to choose your preferred payment method and frequency.
Can I switch the water supplier in Farnham Common?
Unfortunately, your water suppliers are fixed and depend on the catchment area based on your postcode. As a customer in Farnham Common SL2, your water suppliers are Affinity Water and Thames Water.
Since April 2017, business water customers have been able to switch water suppliers. You can find out if your business is eligible in our guide to switching water suppliers.
Farnham Common Water Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered the most commonly asked questions that customers in Farnham Common have about their water supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water in Farnham Common
Is tap water in Farnham Common safe to drink?
Yes! You can drink the tap water in Farnham Common. You can rest assured that Farnham Common water meets high standards making it safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has given Farnham Common water quality 99.94% in overall mean zonal compliance, which means your water is safe to drink. It is not required to boil or filter Farnham Common water to make it drinkable.
Where does the water in Farnham Common come from?
There are three main sources of water that supply Farnham Common:
- Surface sources - 93%
- Groundwater sources - 6%
- Mixed sources - 1%
What's the water hardness rating in Farnham Common
While rainwater itself is relatively soft, water hardness can change through the water cycle. As rainwater filters through rocks, it picks up minerals, such as magnesium and calcium. The more minerals the water picks up, the harder is your water considered.
The water hardness in Farnham Common is higher than 276ppm, that makes the water hardness in Farnham Common is rated as very hard water.
What does this mean?
The water supply to your home in Farnham Common contains a higher amount of hard water minerals. very hard water will not clean your clothes, dishes, or your body efficiently, and your appliances will be less efficient which is not good news for your utility bills. It also means an increased limescale build-up in your home appliances and your tap water taste may be affected.
Selectra recommends
We recommend adding a softening agent to the water in Farnham Common.
- Baths, sinks, and toilets - Use an acidic sanitiser regularly (available in local shops) to clean susceptible surfaces in order to clear limescale deposits.
- Kettles - Don't completely fill your kettle with water. You can clean your kettle by half-filling and diluting two tablespoons of white vinegar, leaving it for four hours in order to loosen scale build-up. Rinse and repeat to remove scale.
- Dishwashers - Use the built-in water softener. Make sure you occasionally top it off with dishwasher salt in the right compartment.
Farnham Common No Water
If there isn't any running water in your Farnham Common home, you need to find out if the issue is to do with your home plumbing or if the problem is a widespread issue affecting Farnham Common.
If there is no water at your Farnham Common home, is the problem no cold water or no hot water? If you don't have hot water but have cold water, the issue will be with your home plumbing and not a problem affecting Farnham Common.
If you don't have any cold water, not even a trickle, contact Affinity Water or Thames Water for assistance. In this case you should try the following tips:
- Check the "In Your Area" sections of the Affinity Water or Thames Water website for any information explaining why you have no water.
- Examine the Twitter account of Affinity Water or Thames Water, they will often tweet updates when there's a problem.
- Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you.
- Verify your stop tap and make sure it's open.
Farnham Common water leak or flooding
Farnham Common water problems could be anything from a leak, a burst water main, or flooding in your Farnham Common home. This means it's very important you know what to do and who to contact regarding a water emergency.
If you discover flooding or a water leak outside your Farnham Common property, you should try to do one of the following as long as it's safe to do so:
- Call Affinity Water or Thames Water whether the problem is with clean water or wastewater.
- If you have access to the internet, go to the "report a leak" section of the Affinity Water or Thames Water website and fill in the form to report the problem.
Why does the water in Farnham Common taste strange?
If you detect a difference in smell or taste of your Farnham Common water this could be because of one of the following reasons:
- Chlorination is a safe way to make sure the pipe network maintains high levels of hygiene throughout.
- Seasonal changes can infuse the Farnham Common water with an earthy smell or taste.
- Plumbing can also contribute to the taste of your household water, adding rubbery, salty, or metallic hints to Farnham Common water.
If you are unsure about your water's appearance, smell, or taste, you should get in touch with Affinity Water or Thames Water on the contact details above.
Broadband Speed in Farnham Common SL2
The speed of your internet connection at your Farnham Common home depends on several factors such as:
- Availability of fibre
- Proximity of the local telephone exchange
- Placement of your router
- If you're using wi-fi or ethernet
- Your internet service provider or ISP
Test your internet speed and see if it matches the average internet speed in Farnham Common with our easy to use broadband speed test tool.
Did you know that the average download speed in the UK is around 62.5Mbps?
| Farnham Common Average Download Speed | Farnham Common Average Upload Speed |
|---|---|
| 92.20 Mbps | 25.90 Mbps |
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The internet connection type you have can have an effect on the speed you get in Farnham Common. An FTTP is the fastest internet connection available in the UK however, at the time of writing, this is only available to 31.83% of homes in the UK.
ADSL internet connections are the slowest, but for some customers in remote areas it is the only means of connection that's available.
What to look for when choosing an internet provider in Farnham Common?
These days, the internet is as important as other essential utilities, perhaps more important. That means choosing an internet service provider might seem daunting at first. Don't worry, we've listed the four important points worth considering before choosing an internet provider in Farnham Common.
Availability
The first thing to consider whilst choosing an internet provider in Farnham Common is the issue of availability. The majority of homes in Farnham Common can take advantage of fibre or 'superfast' connections, people outside a built-up area may have trouble getting fast broadband.
However, new builds and properties that have been constructed in the last few years may already have access to ultrafast FTTH since developers often install the latest infrastructure when constructing new homes.
Type of connection
What kinds of internet connection are available in Farnham Common?
- Fibre broadband
- This is the fastest type of connection you can get in Farnham Common
- There are two categories of fibre broadband connections, we call them 'Superfast' and 'Full Fibre'
- Superfast broadband means the download speed that's at least 24 Mbps.
- A Full Fibre broadband internet connection comes with downloads speeds from 300 Mbps up to 1 Gbps.
- ADSL or ADSL2
- An older type of connection that is delivered through your traditional telephone line.
- Slower speeds up to 24 Mbps.
- High availability with for 99.9% of Farnham Common homes.
- Cable
- A similar or even faster download speed than fibre broadband.
- Available only via Virgin Media.
- Restricted availability in some parts of Farnham Common.
- 4G/5G, Mobile, and Satellite Broadband
- Speed is dependant upon the mobile signal strength in Farnham Common.
- Might work out more expensive without an unlimited data plan.
- No special equipment required by tethering to your smartphone, although some of the mobile networks in the UK will not allow tethering.
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Farnham Common broadband cost
Another important consideration is the monthly cost of broadband in Farnham Common. It's easy to find a broadband provider that's offering a cheap introductory offer for new customers, but the price can quickly increase. It's important to read the small print of the offer when you sign up for a broadband connection in Farnham Common. Some providers will raise the price even before your contract has finished. We reported recently on the BT price hike that has affected millions of customers.
Farnham Common Broadband Reliability
The reliability of the broadband connection is in Farnham Common also needs consideration, with many of us working from home either full-time or part-time, having a reliable internet connection to do your work is a priority.
Then in our freetime we're streaming movies or playing online games with friends which without a reliable broadband connection at your Farnham Common home is something to think about.
Farnham Common broadband technical support
Lastly, the technical support for your Farnham Common broadband connection is extremely important. There's a good chance you will never need to contact the internet service provider you choose, however, if you have an issue and need to get in touch with them then having solid customer service that is able to solve your issue efficiently and quickly is definitely something worth considering when you choose a broadband provider in Farnham Common.
Broadband FAQ
Our FAQ contains the answers to the most asked questions from customers in Farnham Common ask about their broadband.
Broadband FAQs
What's the average broadband speed in Farnham Common?
The average broadband speed in Farnham Common is:
| Farnham Common Average Download Speed | Farnham Common Average Upload Speed |
|---|---|
| 92.20 Mbps | 25.90 Mbps |
What do ADSL, Superfast, FTTC, FTTH, and FTTP actually mean?
Put simply, this is the way of connecting to the internet.
- ADSL: Asymmetric digital subscriber line - this type of connection has speeds up to 24 Mbps. However, the further you are from the telephone exchange, the slower your connection will be.
- Superfast: This type of fibre broadband has a download speed of at least 30 Mbps.
- FTTC: Fibre To The Cabinet - is fibre broadband that's connected to a green box on your street in Farnham Common, from which it is connected to your property through your existing telephone line.
- FTTP/FTTH: Fibre To The Premises/Home - This is a fibre broadband connection is connected with 100% fibre cables to your Farnham Common house. That makes it the most reliable and fastest fibre broadband. At present, 31.83% of UK home .
What broadband speed do I need?
That would depend on what kind of internet user you are. Check out the table below to find out the kind of broadband speed you should pick when signing up for broadband in Farnham Common.
| Frequent internet uses | Recommended Broadband Speed | Maximum of 2 devices |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum of 2 devices | Web, email, working from home (WFH), light streaming, social media, etc | 10-25 Mbps Broadband |
| Maximum of 5 devices | AAll the above and 4K streaming or online gaming | 50-100 Mbps Broadband |
| 5 devices or more | All the above plus large file transfers or streaming your own video content on the web | 100+ Mbps Broadband |
What's the difference between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz WiFi?
2.4ghz and 5ghz are the two radio frequencies internet routers use to talk to your connected devices. 2.4Ghz WiFi signals travel further, but has a slower speed. 5Ghz WiFi signals have a smaller radius, but are able to transmit your data at faster speeds.
What's the telephone dialling code of Farnham Common
The landline area code, sometimes called the dialling code, for Farnham Common is 01806. If you call someone in Farnham Common, and you are not in the same area, you will need to add 01806 to the number you're calling.
How much does an 01806 Farnham Common call cost?
If you have a call plan with your landline or mobile tariff, the cost of the call is likely to be included in that tariff. Without an inclusive calls plan, the cost of the call will be about 10p per minute, plus a small call set-up charge.
If you are uncertain whether you have a plan that includes calls, please check with your provider before calling so you don't find unexpected charges on your telephone bill.
How many dialling codes does the UK have? There are 645 area codes in the UK incl. Northern Ireland. Area codes in the UK can be three, four, or five digits long.
Gas and Electricity in Farnham Common
Residents in Farnham Common are free to choose their gas and electricity provider, but regardless of the supplier they are billed by, the gas and electricity is going to be supplied and maintained by the regional network operator.
We call them Distribution Network operators (DNOs) and it is these companies that own, operates and maintains the infrastructure that supplies your Farnham Common home to the gas and electricity networks.
More often than not you won't need to contact the Farnham Common distribution network operator, but should the need arise, you can find the distribution network operator for Farnham Common below.
Learn more about what a Distribution Network Operator (DNO) does in our Distribution Network Operator guide
Electricity Distribution Network Operator in Farnham Common
The electricity distribution network operator for Farnham Common is Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks - Central Southern England. You can find the Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks - Central Southern England contact details in the table below:
| Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks - Central Southern England Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| General Enquiries | 0800 048 3516 |
| Emergencies | 0800 072 7282 |
| GE@ssen.co.uk | |
| Website | https://www.ssen.co.uk/ |
| Address | Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road Perth |
The UK has six electricity distribution network operators:
- Electricity North West
- Northern Powergrid
- SSE Networks
- SP Energy Networks
- UK Power Networks
- Western Power Distribution
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Power Generation near Farnham Common
There are no power plants within a 10 mile radius of Farnham Common.
Fossil Fuels
In 2021, a total of 47.4% of the UK’s electricity was generated by burning fossil fuels. The majority of which was natural gas (42%) and coal (2.7%). Additionally, a small amount was produced from fossil fuels from other sources (2.7%). The amount of electricity produced from fossil fuels changes each year.
Nuclear Power
Nuclear power accounted for 16.1% of electricity generation in 2021, this is expected to reduce in the next few years as the UK’s nuclear power stations begin to close, by 2035 there will only one nuclear power plant still producing energy. However, new nuclear reactors are being planned such as Hinkley Point C which is currently under construction.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy produced 40.3% of electricity in 2021, an increase from 29% in 2018. Renewable sources can include wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. This will conmtinue to rise as the UK aims to meet its net-zero targets.
Towns and Cities Near Farnham Common
Perhaps you're wondering which towns and cities are close to Farnham Common, we've found the five nearest towns and cities to Farnham Common.
| Municipality | Distance from Farnham Common |
|---|---|
| Hedgerley | - |
| Farnham Royal | - |
| Llangammarch Wells | 2.62 miles |
| Llanwrtyd Wells | 2.63 miles |
| Seer Green | 3.64 miles |