Radcliffe Water: Your Supplier, Hardness & Quality

If you have just moved and have a few Radcliffe water questions, you will be able to find out who handles the Radcliffe water supply as well as wastewater services in the information below. Additionally, we have advice on what you should do if you encounter a problem with your water supply.

Radcliffe Water Supplier

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

Radcliffe'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 supplied to Radcliffe comes from the reservoirs of Haweswater and Thirlmere in the Lake District, from the Pennines or Lake Vyrnwy in Wales. The remainder comes from rivers, such as the River Dee, and the rest is sourced from boreholes.

Water Rates Radcliffe

The water rates that apply to the homes in Radcliffe vary and will depend on if your property has a water meter. You can find out whether your water rates are metered or not by looking at your water bill. Homes with metered Radcliffe water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills.

If you don't have a bill available to check this, you can also take a look around your property. Homes with metered water rates would have a water meter situated in the property, which would usually be located either next to the water stop tap, or outside in the garden.

Homes that are not metered won't have this, but they will have the rateable value of the home instead. The rateable value part of your Radcliffe water rates will have been determined by the local council in the 90s and most likely will not have changed significantly since. This value was based on factors such as the size of the property and the area in which it is situated.

The average water rates Radcliffe water residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around £419 a year. This amount combines both sewerage costs and water supply.

If you would like help deciding if water meters are for you, or how you can start saving some money check out these great water meter and water rates guides.

Radcliffe Water Hardness

Radcliffe 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 water supply area, Radcliffe picks up minerals, such as magnesium or calcium, on the way to your tap.

Having soft water is a good thing for your home, as this means that your water is much less inclined to cause scaling in dishwashers, sinks, kettles and toilets. Additionally, your energy bills will be more efficient, your washing should be softer, and your appliances should last longer due to a lack of limescale build-up, compared to hard water areas.

Can you drink the water in Radcliffe?

Yes! Radcliffe was given a 99.96% score in overall mean zonal compliance by the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate. This means that your water exceeds minimum safety and quality requirements, and it is not required to purchase bottled water to consume or to further filter or boil your tap water.

If the flavour of your water changes, this is usually not a cause for concern. Here are a few examples of possible causes:

1. Chlorination is closely monitored at all times to ensure that it does not pose a risk to health. This helps to maintain high hygiene standards within the pipe network, and prevent bacterial build-ups.
2. Seasonal changes in water characteristics can infuse the water in Radcliffe with an earthy taste or smell. Your water source can change throughout the year, and as each source location has a unique mineral combination this can influence the taste of your water.
3. Plumbing can also contribute to the taste of the water in your household, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints. If for example a water carrying pipe has been replaced in your home, the introduction of this new material can also change the taste of your water.

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

Radcliffe Water Problems

Radcliffe's water problems can include anything from burst water mains to flooding or even having no water in your home. This is why it is important to know what to do and who to contact regarding water emergencies.

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

1. If you aren't at home you can call United Utilities, or reach out to them on social media.
2. If you are near a computer, go to the "Incident Check" or "Report a problem" section of the United Utilities website to follow their troubleshooting guide, or seek to make contact.

Radcliffe 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 a United Utilities outage impacting Radcliffe.

1. Check the "Diagnose, report and resolve" sections of the United Utilities website and follow their step-by-step guide to further understand or escalate the issue.
2. Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you. If they don't, then the problem will likely be to do with your home's plumbing.
3. Check that your stop tap is open. If this is open but no water flows, then there is a United Utilities supply issue.

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, seeing as the water supply to the property is still functional.

If there is no cold water, not even a trickle, contact United Utilities Water for assistance, as this indicates a supply issue.