Hard water is caused by natural minerals in your water supply.

As a natural resource, not all water is the same. Whether you have hard or soft water will depend on the geographic factors within the area in which you live.

Hard water is actually caused by the minerals the water picks up along the journey from the source, to your tap. Most of the water in the region served by Bristol Water is classified as Hard, or Very Hard, due to the presence of limestone in the ground.

There are no health problems with hard water, but it can cause a few problems with your appliances and white goods, in some instances increasing wear. The good news is that by taking a few simple steps, the impact of hard water can be reduced.

Learn more by visiting our Hard Water page.

Why is my water discoloured?

If you notice your water looks dirty or discoloured, the cause is usually due to maintenance, or repair work being undertaken on in the pipes that supply your house.

When there is a leak, or if a pipe has burst, the water flowing through the water mains can often increase significantly, this increase in flow can cause sediment that would normally be dormant, being picked up and flowing through to your taps making the water look dirty.

Discoloured water is usually temporary, and in most instances can be resolved by simply running the cold tap nearest your internal stop tap (which is usually in the kitchen) for about 20 minutes. You needn't turn the tap on full, a thin, slow flow should be more than sufficient.

If the water hasn't cleared after 20 minutes, turn the tap off for a further 20 minutes and then repeat the process.

If you still have dirty water after trying this process a couple of times, let us know and we'll look into it for you.

More about discoloured water

Help with low water pressure

The amount of water pressure your home receives is dependent on a wide range of factors. Some of these will be down to the way we supply your water and the distance it needs to travel, but others will be due to the way you use your water.

As low pressure can be frustrating, we've created a dedicated page that details the reasons for variations in water pressure, including some simple tips on how you can improve the pressure in your home.

More about low pressure

Help with high water pressure

The amount of water pressure your home receives is dependent on a wide range of factors. Some of these will be down to the way we supply your water and the distance it needs to travel, but others will be due to the way you use your water.

Unlike low pressure, high pressure is rare, and usually a temporary occurrence.

If you are experiencing high pressure, try running the tap for a few minutes to see if the problem clears. If it does not, then it's possible your stop tap is open too much and needs to be closed ever so slightly.

More about high pressure

Using your stop tap

Why does my water have a bad taste or smell?

The water we supply comes from a variety of sources including rivers, boreholes, wells and springs. Each source has its own characteristic taste depending on the type and concentration of its natural mineral composition. Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may need to provide you with a water supply from a different source. At these times you may notice a slight change to the taste of your water. Some people are more sensitive to changes in taste or smell than others.

Sometimes however, different types of taste and odour can develop in your tap water, which are not associated with natural minerals or changes to the source. Some of the most common reasons are covered on our 'smells and odours' page

More about bad tastes or smells

What's in my tap water?

Your water contains a number of different additives, some are naturally occurring, and others, like chlorine, we add to make the water safe to drink.

In all cases, the water we provide to your tap is tested rigorously to ensure it is safe to drink. If you would like to find out more about the substances in your water you can do so below.

More about water additives