Lewes Water: Supplier, Hardness & Issues
Looking to find out more about your Lewes water supply or have recently moved home? Then this is the guide for you! In this guide, we will cover who your Lewes water and wastewater suppliers are, what your areas water hardness will mean for you, and what to do if you encounter water problems.
Lewes Water Supplier
Lewes water is supplied by one water company, Southern Water. Here are the contact details for your Lewes water supplier:
| Water Company | Phone Number | Opening Times |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Water | 0330 303 0277 | Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 8am-2:30pm |
Lewes sewerage and wastewater is handled by the same company. Here are Lewes sewerage and wastewater contact details:
| Water Company | Phone Number | Opening Times |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Water | 0330 303 0368 | Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat & Sun 7:30am-10:30pm, 24/7/365 for emergencies |
Be aware that calls to numbers starting with 03 may be charged at local rates by your phone company.
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Where does Lewes water come from?
The vast majority (70%) of water in Southern Waters supply area is sourced from the underground chalk aquifer. 23% comes from surfacewater sources such as rivers, while the remaining 7% comes from reservoirs. Your water will always go through an extensive testing and purification process before reaching your home, nomatter where it has come from.
Water Rates Lewes
The type of water rates that apply to your Lewes home will vary depending on you have a water meter or not. You can find out which you have by taking a look at a water bill. Homes that have metered water rates will display a meter number, or the account number will start with UC for unmetered customers or MC for metered customers.
If you don't have a bill available, you can check your home to see if you can find a water meter. These would be located either in a small box in the ground in your garden, or in the vicinity of the water stop tap. If you have a water meter, it is important that you give your water provider water meter readings. You provider will bill you according to your usage, and so failing to provide this data means that they will give you estimated bills. Submitting a meter reading is very simple, and can be done either via their website, your account, by giving them a call, or via their app.
Homes that are not metered will have a rateable value of the home instead. The rateable value takes into account factors such as property size, location, and the availability of local services to create a usage value that is then applied to your bill.
The average water rates Lewes water residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around £341 a year. This amount combines both water supply and sewerage costs.
If you nare interested in learning more about water meters or water rates, then our water meter and water rates guides will help you to get started.
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Lewes Water Hardness
Lewes's water hardness is rated as hard water. The hardness rating of water varies from region to region, and is based on the mineral values present within the water. Though rainwater is quite soft, as water filters through the earth is can pick up minerals such as magnesium or calcium. The more minerals that are within the water, the harder it will be, and the less effective it is for household use.
Lewes water's hardness rating means that your water will cause limescale accumultation around taps and sinks, and even potentially thr deterioration of appliances over time. Here are a few simple tips on what you can do to counter water hardness:
- Kettles - Do not overfill your kettle with water. Make sure that you clean your kettle by half-filling and adding two tablespoons of white vinegar, leaving it for four hours in order to loosen scale build-up. Rinse and repeat to remove scale.
- Baths, sinks and toilets - Clean these areas with an acidic sanitizer. This will help to reduce and slow the accumulation of limescale deposits.
- Clothing - Liquid detergents should be used over powder detergents due to them being generally more effective at resisting water hardness. Additionally, you should clean your washing machine by adding baking soda and white vinegar directly into the drum, and setting it to a hot wash. Make sure to wipe down the drum thoroughly afterwards.
- Dishwashers - Take advantage of the built-in water softener. Make sure you regularly top off it off with dishwasher salt in the appropriate compartment.
Can you drink the water in Lewes?
Yes! you can drink the water in Lewes. You can rest assured that Lewes water meets high standards making it safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Lewes water quality a 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance, meaning that your water is safe to drink. It is not necessary to boil or filter Lewes water to make it potable.
If you notice a change in taste or smell of Lewes water this may be due to one of the following reasons:
- Seasonal changes in water characteristics or the source of your water can infuse Lewes water with an earthy smell or taste.
- Chlorination ensures hygiene throughout the pipe network and poses no risk to health.
- Plumbing such as new taps or pipes can contribute to the taste of your household water, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints.
If you have questions or are worried about your water's taste, smell or appearance, you should not hesitate to contact Southern Water.
Lewes Water Problems
Lewes's water problems can come in many forms, ranging from a burst water main or flooding por even having no water in your home. This is why you should make sure you know what to do and who to contact regarding water emergencies.
If you notice a water leak or flooding outside your Lewes property, you need to do one of the following:
- If you are near a computer, go to the "report a leak" section of Southern Water and fill out the online form to report the issue.
- If you are out and about, you can easily reach Southern Water by giving them a call, or by contacting them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Lewes 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 Lewes.
- Check the "In Your Area" sections of the Southern Water website for any information explaining why you have no water, and when you can expect supply to return.
- Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you. If they arent, then the problem will most likely be due to your own homes plumbing, and you may need to contact a plumber.
- 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 Southern Water for assistance.