Chatham Water: Hardness, Water Info & Rates

If you just moved and have some Chatham water questions, you will be able to find who handles the Chatham water supply as well as wastewater services in the information below. Additionally, we have tips on how to deal with Chatham water hardness so that you can enjoy quality tap water in your home.

Chatham Water Supplier

Chatham Water is supplied by one water company, southern Water. Here are the contact details for your Chatham water supplier:

Chatham sewerage and wastewater is handled by the same company. Here are Chatham sewerage and wastewater contact details:

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

Water Rates Chatham

The water rates in Chatham will vary depending on whether your home has a water meter. You can easily find out whether your Chatham water rates are metered or not by looking at your water bill. Homes with metered Chatham water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills.

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 Chatham water rates will have been determined by the local council in the 90s and will probably not have changed much since then, however, it is reviewed every 5 years.

If you don't have a bill available, or have just moved, you can look outside your house or in the front garden for a meter. Sometimes the meter may be located inside your house near to the stop tap.

If you want to read more about water meters take a read through Selectra's essential guide to water meters.

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

If you want to save money on your water bill then our simple guide to water rates in the UK will give you some great advice on how to lower your water bill.

Chatham Water Hardness

Chatham water hardness is rated as hard water. While rainwater itself is relatively soft, water hardness can change through the water cycle. Due to the way water filters through rocks in Chatham Water's supply area, Chatham water picks up minerals, such as magnesium or calcium, on the way to your tap.

The hard water rating means that your laundry means that your water is less efficient in tasks such as washing clothes or dishes and could potentially lead to scaling affecting your kettles, sinks, dishwashers and toilets. There are ways to limit the effect of hard water, however.

1. Baths, sinks and toilets: Use an acidic sanitiser regularly (available in local supermarkets and shops) to clean susceptible surfaces in order to clear limescale deposits.
2. Kettles: Do not overfill your kettle with water, using only the volume of water that you need. Make sure to also clean your kettle by half-filling it and adding two tablespoons of white vinegar, leaving it for four hours in order to loosen scale build-up. Rinse and repeat to remove the scale.
3. Dishwashers: Take advantage of the built-in water softener. Make sure you regularly top it off with dishwasher salt in the appropriate compartment.

Can you drink the water in Chatham?

Yes! The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Chatham water quality a 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance, meaning that your water is perfectly safe to drink. It is not necessary to boil or filter Chatham water in order to make it potable.

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

1. Chlorination is a safe way to ensure hygiene throughout the pipe network.
2. Seasonal changes can infuse Chatham water with an earthy smell or taste.
3. Plumbing can also contribute to the taste of your household water, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints.

If you have questions about your water's taste, smell or appearance, you should not hesitate to contact Southern Water.

Chatham Water Problems

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

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

1. If you are out and about, call or tweet Southern Water
2. If you are near a computer, go to the "report a leak" section of Southern Water and fill out the online form.

Chatham 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 Southern Water outage impacting Chatham.

1. Check the "In Your Area" sections of the Southern Water website for any information explaining why you have no water.
2. Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you.
3. Check that your stop tap is open

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 rather than the water company

If there is no cold water at all, contact Southern Water for assistance, as this indicated a problem with the supply.

Chatham Water Discolouration

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

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