Kendal Water Supplier

Kendal's water is supplied by United Utilities, which also handles sewerage and wastewater services. United Utilities is the regional water company for the whole of North West England, serving around 7 million people across Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

If you have just moved into Kendal, you do not need to sign up with United Utilities in the same way as with an energy supplier - water is a regional monopoly and you cannot switch. You simply need to register your details so your account is opened and the bill is issued in your name.

United Utilities water supply contact details for Kendal
Service Phone Hours
Water supply (metered)0345 672 2888Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 8am–4pm
Water supply (non-metered)0345 672 2999Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 8am–4pm
Sewerage & wastewater emergencies0345 672 372324 hours, 7 days

Source: United Utilities published customer contact numbers. Calls to 03 numbers are charged at a standard landline rate and are normally included in inclusive minute bundles.

Where does Kendal's water come from? More than two-thirds of the water supplied to Kendal comes from the Cumbrian reservoirs of Haweswater and Thirlmere in the Lake District, the Pennines or Lake Vyrnwy in Wales. A quarter comes from rivers such as the River Dee, and the rest is sourced from boreholes. Being on the doorstep of the Lake District, Kendal draws directly from this high-quality upland catchment.

For a full list of phone numbers, complaints procedures and alternative contact channels, see our dedicated United Utilities contact number guide.

Water Rates in Kendal

Water rates in Kendal depend on whether your property is metered or non-metered. The average annual water bill for Kendal residents is approximately £419, combining both water supply and sewerage costs.

There are two billing types for residential properties:

  • Metered - billed on actual consumption measured in cubic metres (m³). You can identify a metered account by the meter number on the bill or an account number starting with MC. Metered customers need to provide regular meter readings so that United Utilities can bill them according to their exact usage.
  • Unmetered - billed on the property's rateable value, a figure set by local councils back in the 1990s based on the size and location of the property. Unmetered accounts start with UC.

If you do not have a bill available to check this, you can also look around your property for a water meter. Meters are usually located next to the internal stop tap (typically under the kitchen sink or in the garage), or outside in the garden near the boundary.

Non-metered rateable values are reviewed periodically by United Utilities and feed directly into the annual water charge. If your home was built after 1990 it will almost certainly have a water meter installed from the start. If you live alone or in a small household, a water meter can often work out cheaper than the rateable-value charge - United Utilities installs meters free of charge on request.

Struggling to pay? United Utilities runs several support schemes including Back on Track (reduced tariff for financial hardship), Payment Break, Payment Matching and the WaterSure Scheme for low-income metered households. Call 0800 076 6765 to check your eligibility.

Kendal Water Hardness

Kendal water hardness is rated as soft. While rainwater itself is relatively soft, water hardness can change through the water cycle. Due to the way water filters through rocks in the United Utilities supply area, Kendal picks up only small amounts of minerals such as magnesium or calcium on the way to your tap.

Soft water means Kendal residents benefit from reduced limescale buildup in kettles, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines and boilers, as well as softer laundry and less soap scum compared to households in hard water areas of southern and eastern England. Appliances tend to last longer and consume less energy because heating elements stay free of scale.

Can You Drink the Water in Kendal?

Yes, Kendal's tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap. Kendal's water meets high standards and was scored at 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance by the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), placing it among the highest-quality tap water in the country. It is not necessary to filter, boil or otherwise alter Kendal's water to make it potable.

If you notice a change in the taste or smell of your water, the most common causes are:

  1. Seasonal changes in water characteristics can infuse the water in Kendal with an earthy taste or smell, as water is drawn from different reservoirs or boreholes at different times of year.
  2. Chlorination - United Utilities adds a small amount of chlorine to disinfect the supply and control bacteria, and this can sometimes be noticeable after a change in water treatment.
  3. Plumbing repairs or replacements can leave metallic, salty or rubbery hints in the water for a short time.

Running the cold tap for a minute before drinking usually clears any short-term issue. If the problem persists, contact United Utilities so they can investigate the supply.

Kendal Water Problems

The water problems you could encounter in Kendal could include anything from burst water mains, failed supply or even flooding. If you notice a leak, burst pipe, flooding, loss of supply or discoloured water in Kendal, United Utilities runs a 24/7 emergency line on 0345 672 3723. You do not need to be the account holder to report a problem - anyone can call.

If you notice a water leak or flooding outside your Kendal property, you can also:

  • Contact United Utilities on social media if you are away from home.
  • Visit the "Incident Check" or "Report a problem" section of the United Utilities website to follow their troubleshooting guide or submit a report online.

Kendal No Water

If you suddenly have no water at your property, work through these troubleshooting steps to find out if the issue is with your home plumbing or a United Utilities outage impacting Kendal:

  1. Ask your neighbours whether they also have no water - if they do, the outage is on the network and United Utilities will already be aware. If only your property is affected, it points to a personal plumbing issue rather than a supplier problem.
  2. Verify that your internal stop tap is fully open (usually under the kitchen sink).
  3. Check the "Diagnose, report and resolve" section of the United Utilities website and follow their step-by-step guide to understand or escalate the issue.

If you have cold water but no hot water, the issue will be with your home plumbing and not the water company, as the supply to the property is still functional. If there is no cold water at all, not even a trickle, contact United Utilities on 0345 672 3723 for assistance.

Kendal Water FAQ

Water and sewerage services in Kendal are supplied by United Utilities, the regional water company for the whole of North West England. You cannot switch water supplier in the UK.

The average annual water bill in Kendal is approximately £419, combining both water supply and sewerage charges. The exact amount depends on whether your property is metered or billed on rateable value.

Kendal has soft water. The supply comes largely from the Cumbrian reservoirs of Haweswater and Thirlmere in the Lake District, which pass over hard, impermeable rocks and pick up very little calcium or magnesium.

Yes. Kendal tap water meets high regulatory standards and was scored at 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, meaning it is safe to drink straight from the tap.

Call United Utilities on 0345 672 3723, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also report leaks via Twitter (@unitedutilities) or the "Report a Problem" page on unitedutilities.com.

Useful Kendal Water Guides

Our related guides cover United Utilities in more depth and explain how UK water bills, meters and complaints procedures work.

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