Penrith Water: Supplier, Problems & Hardness

Looking to find out more about your Penrith water supply or have recently moved home? Then this is the guide for you! In this guide, we will cover who your Penrith water and wastewater suppliers are, what your areas water hardness will mean for you, and what to do if you encounter water problems.

Penrith Water Supplier

Penrith's water is supplied by one water company, United Utilities. Here are the main Penrith water supplier contact details:

Penrith's sewerage and wastewater is also handled by United Utilities.

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

Where does United Utilities water come from?

More than two-thirds of the water in the United Utilities coverage area comes from the Cumbrian reservoirs of Haweswater and Thirlmere in the Lake District, from the Pennines or Lake Vyrnwy in Wales. A quarter comes from rivers, such as the River Dee, and the rest is sourced from boreholes. The water from all of these sources goes through a thorough filtering process before reaching your Penrith home to ensure its high quality.

Water Rates Penrith

Residential properties have two forms of rates - metered, and unmetered. Homes that have metered Penrith water rates will have a meter number 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 water bill, you can look around your home 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 in the ground.

If your home is equipped with a water meter, it is important that you give your supplier regular water meter readings. Not doing so could result in your provider inaccurately estimating your bills.

Homes that don't have a water meter will have the rateable value instead. 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 average water rates Penrith residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around £369 per year. This amount combines both sewerage costs and water supply.

This guide to water rates in the UK will give you some great information on how water charges work, and how you can start saving on your water bills.

Penrith Water Hardness

Penrith water hardness is rated as soft. While rainwater is soft, water hardness changes as it progresses through the water cycle and picks up minerals. The more minerals such as calcium or magnesium your water has, the harder it will be rates, and the less effective it will be for household usage. Having water of soft rating means that you should not see significant limescale accumulation or the deterioration of appliances, and it is unnecessary to take additional action to improve your water's quality.

Can you drink the water in Penrith?

Yes! Penrith's' water meets high standards making it safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Penrith water quality at 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance, meaning that your water meets all legal requirements, and it is not necessary to boil or filter Penrith water to make it potable.

If your waters taste or smell has changed, this may be due to one of the following reasons:

1. Plumbing such as pipe or taps repairs and replacements can contribute to the taste of your household water, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints.
2. Chlorination helps to minimize the presence of harmful natural contaminants such as bacteria, and poses no risk to health.
3. Seasonal changes in water characteristics can infuse Penrith water with an earthy smell or taste. As the source of your water changes throughout the year, so too will its mineral composition, affecting its taste.

If you are worried about your water's quality, appearance or feel that it may not be safe to consume, you should not hesitate to contact United Utilities.

Penrith Water Problems

Penrith water problems can come in a multitude of forms, stretching from burst water pipes, flooding, inconsistent supply to having no water supply in your home. If you notice a water problem outside your Penrith property, you should do the following:

1. If you are near a computer, head over to the "Contact Us" section of the United Utilities website and call them, or request a callback at a time that suits you.
2. If you are out and about, you can message United Utilities on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook), or even WhatsApp.

Penrith Water Discolouration

If you are experiencing water discolouration, the issue might be a United Utilities issue impacting Penrith.

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

If there is no improvement after trying this, you can contact United Utilities for assistance.

Penrith No Water

If you have no water in your home, before calling your supplier you need to find out if the issue is caused by your plumbing or if it is due to a supplier outage impacting Penrith.

1. Check the "In Your Area" sections of the United Utilities website for any information explaining why you have no water, and when you can expect supply to return.
2. Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you. If they aren't, then the problem will most likely be due to the plumbing of your own home, and you may need to contact a plumber.
3. Is your stop tap is open? If this is open but no water is flowing to your taps, then the issue will be related to your supplier.

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 United Utilities for assistance.