Ware Water: Your Supplier, Rates & Meters

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

Ware Water Supplier

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

Ware sewerage and wastewater is handled by a seperate company, Thames Water. Here are Ware 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 Ware 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 Ware

Water rates in Ware vary depending on if your home has a water meter. You can find out whether your Ware water rates are metered by checking your water bill. Homes that have metered 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.

Having a water meter means that you will have metered rates. Your supplier will bill you according to your exact water usage, and so providing regular water meter readings is an absolute must, otherwise, you may risk receiving inaccurate and high bills. If you aren't sure of how to get or provide a meter reading, have a browse through this short water meter reading guide to familiarise yourself with the process.

Homes that aren't metered will have the rateable value of the home instead of metered rates. 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 '90s, and will not have changed significantly since.

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

Hoping to save some money on your water bill? This useful guide to water rates will give you some great tips on how you can get started.

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

Ware Water Hardness

Ware water hardness is rated as very 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.

Ware's very hard water rating means that your water will be likely to cause scaling in kettles, sinks, dishwashers and toilets, and your water will be less effective at tasks like cleaning clothes in comparison with homes in soft water areas. Here are a few ways to limit hard water furring or scaling.

1. Baths, sinks and toilets - Use an acidic sanitiser regularly to clean susceptible surfaces in order to clear limescale deposits.
2. Kettles - Do not overfill your kettle. Make sure that you clean your kettle by half-filling it with water and adding two tablespoons of white vinegar, leave it for four hours in order to loosen scale build-up. Rinse and repeat to remove scale.
3. Dishwashers - Take advantage of the built-in water softener. Make sure you regularly top off it off with dishwasher salt in the appropriate compartment.
4. Clothing - Powder-based detergents should be avoided. 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 Ware?

Yes! Ware water meets the highest standards to make the water safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Ware 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 Ware 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. Chlorination is used to safely eliminate harmfull bacterial build-ups in your water.
2. Plumbing such as a water pipe replacement or tap repairs can also contribute to the taste of your household water, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints.
3. Seasonal changes can give 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 will 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.

Ware Water Problems

Nobody likes to be surprised by household water problems, but sometimes it can happen. When it does, it is important that you know how to identify the issue and who you need to contact to get it fixed.

1. If you are near a computer, go to the "report a leak" section of the Affinity Water or Thames 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. You can also give them a call, or reach out to them on one of their social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Ware 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 Ware.

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, then you need to contact Affinity Water for assistance.

Ware Water Discolouration

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

1. Changes to the colour of the water in Ware may happen after a burst pipe has been repaired.
2. Or, Affinity Water could have been carrying out upgrade work on the pipes in Ware.
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.