South West England water is soft to moderately hard (40–180 mg/L CaCO₃). Supplied by South West Water, Wessex Waterand others. Enter your postcode for your exact zone report.
Free · Instant · No sign-up
The South West of England is served primarily by South West Water (covering Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Dorset and Somerset), Wessex Water (covering Dorset, Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire and Hampshire), and Bristol Water (covering Bristol and surrounding areas including parts of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire). The region benefits from high rainfall — some of the highest in England — and extensive moorland reservoir storage.
Water in most of the South West is soft to moderately soft. The granite and sandstone geology of Cornwall, Devon, and Dartmoor means water picks up relatively few minerals, resulting in very soft water — particularly in western Cornwall and Devon, where hardness can be below 50 mg/L CaCO₃. Bristol and the eastern parts of the region, served by different geology and source water, have moderately harder water (150–200 mg/L).
South West Water holds an active DWI PFAS improvement notice. More significantly, South West Water (through its parent company Pennon) was found guilty of criminal charges related to wastewater discharges — a major water quality scandal affecting rivers in Devon and Cornwall. PFAS monitoring in South West Water zones has revealed contamination in some supply areas, linked to historic use of AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) firefighting agents at airports and military facilities in the region.
The soft water in most of the South West is excellent for appliances — kettles and boilers remain limescale-free, reducing energy costs and extending equipment life. However, soft water is more corrosive than hard water and can leach more from plumbing materials including copper pipes and lead solder in older properties. If you live in a pre-1970 property in a soft water area, it is worth checking lead levels in your tap water by entering your postcode above. Soft water can also taste flat compared to harder water due to its low mineral content — many tea drinkers in the South West add a water filter to improve taste.
Yes. Tap water in South West England is safe to drink. UK tap water is subject to rigorous regulation and testing. Over 99.9% of samples pass legal standards each year. Enter your postcode above for your specific zone's data.
South West England has soft to moderately hard (40–180 mg/L CaCO₃) water. Low mineral content — no limescale issues. Water is excellent for appliances.
South West England is served by: South West Water, Wessex Water, Bristol Water. Enter your postcode to identify your exact water company.
South West England has water companies with active DWI PFAS improvement notices. Enter your postcode to check your zone.