Barnstable Water: Meters, Rates & Supplier Info

If you just moved and have some Barnstable water questions, you will be able to find who handles the Barnstable water supply as well as wastewater services in the information below. Additionally, we will cover information on your waters quality and hardness rating.

Barnstable Water Supplier

Barnstable water is supplied by one water company, South West Water. Here are the contact details for your Barnstable water supplier:

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

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

Where does Barnstable water come from?

The vast majority of the water that South West Water provides to Barnstable is from surface water sources, including 20 local reservoirs. Your water will always go through an extensive testing and purification process before arriving at your home.

Water Rates Barnstable

The water rates that apply to your home will vary depending on whether your home is metered, or unmetered. The simplest way that you can determine this is by taking a look at a water bill. Homes that have metered Barnstable water rates will have a meter number listed on their water bills. Alternately often if the account number starts with MC, this means that you are a Metered Customer, as opposed to UC, which would be for Unmetered Customers.

If you cant get your hands on a bill, you could also take a look around your home for a water meter. These would usually be at the earliest point that water enters the property, which depending on the type of building that you live in could be in the garden, or near the water stop tap, which would usually be located either in the kitchen or garage.

Homes that aren't metered will have a rateable value of the home instead. The rateable value will have been determined by the local council in the 90s and is unlikely to have changed significantly since then. The rateable value is reviewed every five years, and takes into consideration factors such as your property occupancy, size and the availability of services to create an estimated consumption value for your home, which is then applied to your billing.

If you need help deciding if getting a water meter is the right choice for you, take a read through Selectra's essential guide to water meters to learn more about their installation along with their pro's and cons.

The average water rates Barnstable residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around £491 a year. This amount combines both water supply and sewerage costs.

are you interested in decreasing your water bill expenditure? then take a read through this handy guide to water rates in the UK, which will give you some great money-saving tips & tricks.

Barnstable Water Hardness

Barnstable water hardness is rated as sift water. While rainwater itself is relatively soft, water hardness can change through the water cycle. Due to the way water filters through rocks in Barnstable water's supply area, Barnstable water picks up minerals, such as magnesium or calcium, on the way to your tap. Having soft water is a great thing for your home, as soft water helps to increase the efficiency of your energy, is more effective at cleaning tasks, and is much less prone to causing limescale build-up in comparison with homes in harder water areas.

Can you drink the water in Barnstable?

Yes! The water in Barnstable is of great quality, and requires no further filtration or boiling in order to make it safe to consume or use. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Barnstable water quality a 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance, meaning that you can be very confident that your water is perfectly fit for consumption

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

1. Chlorination is a safe way to ensure hygiene throughout the pipe network. The amount of chlorine in the water system is closely monitored by South West Water, and helps to minimize bacterial presences.
2. Seasonal changes can infuse Barnstable water with an earthy smell or taste. As your water source can change throughout the year, and each location has a unique mineral composition, this can influence the taste of your water.
3. Plumbing in your home can also affect the taste of your household water, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints. If your plumbing network has undergone repair, the introduction of this new material could also change the taste of your water.

If you have questions about your water's taste, smell or appearance or you are concerned about the safety of your water, you should not hesitate to contact South West Water who will provide you with further support.

Barnstable Water Problems

Barnstable water problems can come in various forms, ranging from burst water pipes to failed water supply or even flooding. This is why it is very important to make sure that you are familiar with what you should do and who you should contact if you encounter such an issue.

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

1. If you aren't at home, call or tweet South West Water to alert them to the problem.
2. If you are near a computer, go to the "report a leak" section of South West Water and fill out the online form.

Barnstable 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 South West Water outage impacting Barnstable.

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

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 South West Water for assistance.

Barnstable Water Discolouration

If the water in your home is discoloured, the issue might be a South West Water issue impacting Barnstable.

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