Oxford Water: Company, Prices, Contact, Water Hardness

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

Oxford Water Supplier

The water in the oxford area is supplied by just one water company, Thames Water. If you need to contact Thames Water, here is their contact information:

Sewerage and wastewater in Oxford is also handled by the same company. Here are sewerage and wastewater contact details for Oxford:

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

Water Rates Oxford

The rates you pay for your water depend on whether your home has a water meter or not. You can find out very easily whether your Oxford water rates are metered or not by looking at a water bill you may have somewhere in the property. Homes with metered Oxford water rates will have a meter number listed on one of your water bills.

If your property does not have a water meter, you will have the rateable value of the home instead. The rateable value part of your Oxford water rates will have been determined by the Oxford local council back in the 1990s and will probably remain the same.

If you've just moved in or you don't have a bill handy, 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 are interested and need information about water meters? check out Selectra's quick and easy guide to water meters.

The average water rates Oxford residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around £374 a year. This amount combines both water supply, sewerage and wastewater costs.

If you want to save money on your water bill then our handy guide to water rates in the UK will give you some great tips & tricks to lower your water bill.

Oxford Water Hardness

Oxford water hardness is rated as very 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 Oxford Water's supply area, Oxford water picks up minerals, such as magnesium or calcium, on the way to your tap.

Oxford water's very hard rating means that the hard water in your home will lead to scaling in kettles, sinks, dishwashers and toilets. There are ways to mitigate hard water furring or scaling in Oxford.

1. Baths, sinks and toilets - Use an acidic sanitiser regularly (available in local shops) to clean susceptible surfaces in order to clear limescale deposits.
2. 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.
3. 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 Oxford?

Yes! the drinking water in Oxford is perfectly safe to drink. Rest assured that the water in Oxford meets extremely high standards making it very safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Oxford 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 Oxford water in order to drink it.

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

1. Chlorination - a safe way to ensure hygiene throughout the pipe network.
2. Seasonal changes in water characteristics can infuse Oxford water with an earthy smell or taste.
3. Plumbing can 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 Thames Water.

Oxford Water Problems

Oxford water problems can include anything from a burst water main or flooding to 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 Oxford property, you need to do one of the following:

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

Oxford 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 Thames Water outage impacting Oxford.

1. Check the "In Your Area" sections of the Thames 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 and not the water company

If there is no cold water, not even a trickle, contact Thames Water for assistance.

Oxford Water Discolouration

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

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