Exeter Water: Water Hardness, Water Rates and Supply Info

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

Exeter Water Supplier

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

Exeter sewerage and wastewater is handled by the same company, South West Water. Here are Exeter 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 Exeter

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

Homes that are not metered won't, but they will have the rateable value of the home instead. The rateable value part of your Exeter water rates will have been determined by the local council in the 90s and will probably not have changed much since then.

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 want to read more about water meters? check out Selectra's essential guide to water meters.

The average water rates Exeter residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around £533 a year. This amount combines both water supply and sewerage costs and is above the UK average of £408 per year.

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.

Exeter Water Hardness

Exeter 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 Exeter Water's supply area, Exeter water picks up high levels above 201ppm of minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, on the way to your tap.

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

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 in, general. 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 Exeter?

Yes! you can drink the water in Exeter, though due to Exeter water being hard you may notice it affects the taste. You can rest assured however that Exeter water meets high standards making it safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Exeter 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 Exeter water to make it potable.

If you notice a change in taste or smell of Exeter 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 Exeter 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 South West Water.

Exeter Water Problems

Exeter 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 Exeter property, you need to do one of the following:

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

Exeter 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 Exeter.

1. Check the "In Your Area" sections of the South West 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 South West Water for assistance.

Exeter Water Discolouration

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

1. Changes to the colour of the water in Exeter 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 Exeter
3. Water Discolouration is not harmful and can 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.