Newmarket Water: Supplier, Rates & Meters

Have you just moved to Newmarket and need to find out more about your water supply? In this guide we will cover everything you need to know, from who your water and wastewater suppliers are, how water hardness will affect you, and how you can get the best out of the water in your home.

Newmarket Water Supplier

The water of Newmarket is supplied by one water company, Anglian Water. Here are the main Newmarket water supplier contact details:

Newmarket sewerage and wastewater is also handled by Anglian Water.

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

Where does Anglian Water's water come from?

Roughly half of the water in the Anglian Water coverage area comes from surface-water sources such as rivers or reservoirs. The remaining water comes from underground sources such as boreholes or aquifers. The water from all sources goes through a thorough filtering and cleansing process to ensure its safety before reaching your home.

The type of water rates that apply to your Newmarket home will vary depending on if the property has a water meter or not. You can find this out by taking a look at a water bill. Homes that have metered water rates will have a meter number listed on their bills. If you cannot see the meter number, often the account number will start with UC (Unmetered Customer) or MC (Metered Customer) which will also indicate meter presence.

Alternately if you do not have a bill available, you can check around your home to see if you can find a water meter. These would usually be located either in the garden of the property or in the vicinity of the water stop tap. If you find a water meter in either of these locations, then your home will have metered rates.

Homes that are not metered won't have metered rates, but they will have a rateable value of the home instead. The rateable value takes into account factors such as property size, location, and the availability of local services to create a usage value that is then applied to your bill.

The average water rates Newmarket water residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around £341 a year. This amount combines both water supply and sewerage costs.

If you need help deciding if a water meter is the right choice for you, or are looking to save on your water bills, then check out these simple water meter and water rates guides to get started.

Newmarket Water Hardness

Newmarket water hardness is rated as hard water. Water hardness ratings are based on the volume of minerals present in your water. The higher the mineral value of things 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.

Newmarket's hard water rating means that your water will cause scaling in kettles, 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 Newmarket.

1. Clothing - Powder-based detergents should be avoided due to them being less effective at resisting water hardness and minerals. Using liquid-based detergents, particularly those focused on softening clothes and water would be much more beneficial. Additionally, you should occasionally 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.
2. Baths, sinks and toilets - Using an acidic sanitiser to clean susceptible surfaces will help to remove limescale deposits.
3. Kettles - Do not overfill your kettle with water. 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. Dishwashers - Take advantage of the built-in water softener. Make sure you regularly top off it off with dishwasher salt in the appropriate compartment.

Can you drink the water in Newmarket?

Yes! The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Newmarket water quality a 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance, meaning that your water is of a very high standard, and is perfectly safe to drink without having to amend it in any way.

If you notice a change in taste or smell of Newmarket Water this may be due to one of the following reasons:

1. Chlorination ensures good hygiene throughout the pipe network. The volume of chlorine is closely monitored, and does not pose a risk to health.
2. Plumbing can contribute to the taste of your household water, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints. Plumbing repairs or pipe replacements for example can cause this.
3. Seasonal changes in water characteristics can infuse Newmarket water with an earthy smell or taste.

If you have questions about your water's taste, smell or appearance, you should not hesitate to contact Anglian Water, who will provide further assistance.

Newmarket Water Problems

Newmarket water problems can include anything from a burst water main or flooding to no water in your home. This is why you should make sure you know what to do and who to contact regarding water emergencies.

If you notice a water leak or flooding outside your Newmarket property, you need to do one of the following:

1. If you are out and about, call or send Anglian Water a message on social media.
2. If you are near a computer, go to the "report a leak" section of the Anglian Water website and fill out the online form.

Newmarket No Water

Having no water in your home could relate to either an internal plumbing issue within your home, or it could be an Anglian Water outage. Here is what you can do to determine which it may be, and what your next steps are.

1. Check the "Contact Us" or "Report an issue" section of the Anglian Waters website. From here you can find useful advice on how to proceed, report an issue via their online form, or find the most appropriate contact number.
2. Check that your stop tap is open. If this is in the closed position, this would prevent water flow. Turning it to open should allow water flow to resume.
3. Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you. If they do, then this points towards the issue being to do with your supplier's network.

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

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