Things you may not know about your tap water

We want our customers to know everything they need to know about their tap water, as well as dispelling common misconceptions.

Here are some fun facts and surprising statistics we think every customer should know!

1. Tap water is just as good as bottled water

We carry out tests on a regular basis to ensure the water we supply to customers meets drinking water quality standards.

Before we supply water to customers’ taps it goes through a rigorous cleaning process to make sure there are no harmful bacteria or impurities present.

Some people believe bottled water is safer to drink, however there isn’t any reliable evidence that supports this idea.

2. Most of the water we supply is naturally hard

Our water supply tends to be hard as most of it comes from natural groundwater sources.

While this means our water has a high mineral content, which can have various health benefits, it can also cause limescale to build up around your home.

If limescale has built up around your home, find out how to get rid of it on our water hardness and limescale page.

3. Tap water can be 500 to 1,000 times cheaper than bottled water

This is a considerable price difference considering they are extremely similar.

The marketing of these products can make you think bottled water is worth it, but blind taste tests have revealed a lot of people can’t taste the difference between the two.

If you opt for bottled water because of the taste, we recommend adding some fresh fruit to a glass or refillable bottle of tap water instead. This will give your drink a fresh twist.

4. Drinking tap water can help you to use less plastic

Despite many single-use plastic bottles being recyclable, they still end up in landfill and make their way into rivers and the sea where they cause harm to marine life and the natural environment.

In the UK, we throw away 7.7 billion plastic water bottles a year and an estimated 15 million bottles are littered, incinerated or disposed of in landfill every day.

By simply using a refillable bottle instead of buying bottled water, you can help reduce this number.

5. You can top up with tap water for free across the region

We have installed water refill points across the area we serve. The units can be used by the public to fill up their bottle for free on their travels.

Most of them can be found in major towns and cities throughout Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset. The aim of our refill project is to reduce the use of single-use plastics, while also keeping people hydrated.

View our water refill point map to find out where they are currently located and where we will be installing new units next.

6. The carbon footprint of bottled water is around 1,000 times greater than tap water

The reason bottled water’s carbon footprint is 1,000 times that of tap water is largely due to packaging and transport.

The environmental impact of bottled water can also be up to 3,500 times greater than tap water.

As the production of tap water is far less carbon-intensive, choosing to drink tap over bottled water will reduce your carbon footprint.

7. You can save water by drinking tap water

Producing a single-use plastic bottle uses around three times as much water than it holds, so by simply drinking tap water instead you can save water.

It’s important we use less water where possible to protect the environment and conserve the precious resource for future generations.

More information about how to save water in your home and garden can be found on our saving water page.