Harwich Water: Problems, Contact & Info

Have you just moved to Harwich and have some water queries? You will be able to find who handles the Harwich water supply as well as wastewater services in the information below. Additionally, we have tips on how to combat Harwich water hardness, along with some great money-saving tips so that you can get more out of the water in your home.

Harwich Water Supplier

Harwich water is supplied by Affinity Water. Here are the contact details for your Harwich water supplier:

Harwich sewerage and wastewater is handled by Anglian Water. Here are Harwich sewerage and wastewater contact details:

Be aware that calls to numbers starting with 03 may be charged at local rates by your phone company.

Where does Harwich water come from?

Affinity water gains 60% of its supplies from underground chalk aquifers. When the aquifer's supply lowers in the summer months this is then supplemented with alternative water sources such as boreholes until rainwater sufficiently restocks the aquifers. Your water will always go through an extensive testing and filtration process to ensure its safety before it reaches your home.

Water Rates Harwich

Water rates in Harwich will depend on if your home has a water meter. You can find out whether your Harwich water rates are metered by looking at your water bill. Homes that have metered Harwich water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills. Alternately if the account number starts with MC, this means metered customer and UC for unmetered customer.

If you don't have a bill available, you can look for a water meter. This would usually be next to the stop tap in the garage or kitchen, or it could be in the garden in a small box sunk into the ground.

Homes that aren't metered will have the rateable value of the home instead of this. The rateable value is based on several factors such as the size of your home, its location, and the availability of services to create an estimated consumption value, which is then used to generate your bill. The value of your home is likely to have been established by the local council in the 90's, and will not have changed significantly since.

The average water rates Harwich residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around £417 a year. This amount combines both sewerage costs and water supply.

If you are interested in getting away from estimated billing, check out Selectra's essential guide to water meters to explore the pros and cons of water metering.

Interested in saving some money on your water bill? Then this useful guide to water rates in the UK will give you some great tips on how you can get started.

Harwich Water Hardness

Harwich water hardness is rated as hard water. Water hardness depends on the volume of minerals present in your water. The higher the mineral value of minerals such as magnesium or calcium, the harder the water will be. Water hardness can vary throughout the year and from region to region due to the different sources that providers use for their water supply.

Harwich's hard water rating means that your water will be more inclined to cause scaling in kettles, sinks, dishwashers and toilets, and your water will be less effective at tasks like cleaning clothes. Here are a few ways to mitigate hard water furring or scaling in Harwich.

1. Baths, sinks and toilets - Use an acidic sanitiser regularly to clean susceptible surfaces in order to clear limescale deposits.
2. Dishwashers - Take advantage of the built-in water softener. Make sure you regularly top off it off with dishwasher salt in the appropriate compartment.
3. Kettles - Do not overfill your kettle. Make sure that you clean your kettle by half-filling and adding two tablespoons of white vinegar, leaving it for four hours in order to loosen scale build-up. Rinse and repeat to remove scale.
4. Clothing - Powder-based detergents should be avoided due to them being less effective at resisting water hardness and minerals. Using liquid-based detergents focused on softening clothes and water would be much more beneficial. Additionally, you should clean your washing machine by adding baking soda and white vinegar directly into the empty drum and setting it to a hot wash. Make sure to wipe down the drum thoroughly afterwards. This process limits and removes limescale build-up.

Can you drink the water in Harwich?

Yes! Harwich water meets the highest standards to make the water safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Harwich water quality a 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance, meaning that your water is safe to drink and meets all legal and safety standards. It is not necessary to boil or filter Harwich water to make it potable.

Mild changes in the taste or flavour of your water is usually not cause for concern, such as in the following examples:

1. Plumbing such as a water pipe replacement also contribute to the taste of your household water, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints.
2. Chlorination is used in safe volumes to eliminate harmfull bacterial build-ups in your water.
3. Seasonal changes can infuse Harwich water with an earthy smell or taste. As the source of your water can change throughout the year, so too can its mineral composition, which can influence the flavour of your water.

If you have questions about your water's taste, smell or appearance, you should not hesitate to contact Affinity Water.

Harwich Water Problems

Do you know what to do and who to contact if you encounter a problem with your water? The types of problems that can affect your water can come in a wide array of forms, from burst pipes, flooding, failure of supply and more. It is important that you familiarize yourself with who you should contact and what resources you can check should you experience water issues:

1. If you are near a computer, go to the "report a leak" section of the Affinity Water or Anglian Water websites and fill out the online form. There are "In your area" sections on the website that will also allow you to check for known issues and the estimated time of repair completion.
2. The quickest way to make contact with your water supplier is often by reaching out to them via social media, or by giving them a call. Remember to call the correct supplier for the issue at hand, you will need Affinity Water if the problem relates to the water supply, and Anglian Water if the problem is to do with sewerage or wastewater.

Harwich No Water

If you have no water in your home, you need to find out if the issue is to do with your home plumbing or an Affinity Water outage impacting Harwich.

1. Check the "In Your Area" sections of the Affinity Water website for any information explaining why you have no water.
2. Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you. If they have a similar issue, then there is likely a supply fault. If they don't, then the issue may lay with your property, and so a plumber is your next step.
3. Check that your stop tap is open. If this is closed, turning it to the open position should allow water to resume flowing.

If you have no water, is it only no cold water or no hot water? If you have cold water but no hot water, the issue will be with your home plumbing and not the water company.

If there is no cold water, not even a trickle, contact Affinity Water for assistance.

Harwich Water Discolouration

If the water in your home is discoloured, the issue might be a Affinity Water issue impacting Harwich.

1. Changes to the colour of the water in Harwich may happen after a burst pipe has been repaired.
2. Or, Affinity Water could have been carrying out upgrade work on the pipes in Harwich.
3. Water Discolouration is not harmful and can often be cleared by running the cold water tap until it becomes clear.

If there is no improvement after trying this, you can contact Affinity Water for assistance.