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Regulator record

CW8 tap water: what's in it?

United Utilities: at least 57 tests failed UK drinking-water standards in 2025 (DWI, company-wide).

Some published DWI figures don't reconcile or identify a company, so we've left them out; the true number may be higher. England overall: 99.97% of tests met standards.

CW8 tap water quality report · 2026

  • Hardness

    Slightly hard

    Details

    Northwich West (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 40 samples

  • Hosepipe ban

    Not available

    Details

    We can't confirm the hosepipe-ban status for United Utilities from the information we hold.

    Check the company's current advice

  • Storm overflows

    68 overflows within 10 km of CW8 centre

    Details

    1,291 spills in 2025

  • Lead pipes

    57% built before 1973

    Details

    Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of CW8 we can match to council-tax records (100% of its postcodes) whose build period is known; the share with no recorded build period isn't published for these areas. Allowing for suppressed counts: 56–57%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).

    Ask United Utilities for a free lead test ↗

    Lead test kits

Who supplies water in CW8

Drinking-water test record

United Utilities: 1,116 of 1,116 postcodes

United Utilities

United Utilities, company-wide

Regulator
DWI
Report year
2025
Failed tests
Not shown
Tests
385,673

The regulator's published total and its company rows disagree, so we don't show a count.

Failed tests by parameter
AluminiumFailed tests: 5
E. coli (confirmed)Failed tests: 4
IronFailed tests: 18
LeadFailed tests: 7
ManganeseFailed tests: 7
NickelFailed tests: 3
Total coliforms (confirmed)Failed tests: 13

Source: DWI england 2025, Annex B — dated 6 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

Source: DWI england 2025, Annex A — dated 6 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

England: 99.97% of tests met standards in 2025 (DWI).

Source: DWI england 2025, national compliance — dated 6 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

How hard is the water in CW8?

94% of CW8's postcodes are in the Northwich West supply zone (United Utilities): 113 mg/l, slightly hard.

Northwich West · United Utilities (1,045 of 1,116 postcodes)

113 mg/l · 7.9 °Clark · 6.3 °dH · 11.3 °fH

Slightly hard

Zone average of 40 samples.

Northwich West (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 40 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026

5 identified supply zones in CW8

Northwich West · United Utilities (1,045 of 1,116 postcodes)

113 mg/l · 7.9 °Clark · 6.3 °dH · 11.3 °fH

Slightly hard

Zone average of 40 samples.

Northwich West (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 40 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026

Kelsall · United Utilities (38 of 1,116 postcodes)

48 mg/l · 3.4 °Clark · 2.7 °dH · 4.8 °fH

Soft

Zone average of 12 samples.

Kelsall (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 12 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026

Appleton · United Utilities (8 of 1,116 postcodes)

124 mg/l · 8.7 °Clark · 6.9 °dH · 12.4 °fH

Slightly hard

Zone average of 36 samples.

Appleton (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 36 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026

Winsford · United Utilities (5 of 1,116 postcodes)

112 mg/l · 7.9 °Clark · 6.3 °dH · 11.2 °fH

Slightly hard

Zone average of 49 samples.

Winsford (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 49 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 28 September 2026

Northwich East · United Utilities (1 of 1,116 postcodes)

112 mg/l · 7.9 °Clark · 6.3 °dH · 11.2 °fH

Slightly hard

Zone average of 39 samples.

Northwich East (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 39 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026

19 postcodes without an identified supply zone

United Utilities (19 of 1,116 postcodes)

We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.

Ask your water company

Storm overflows nearby

68 overflows within 10 km of CW8 centre · 1,291 spills in 2025

CW8 (district) · 2025

Source: Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 — dated 20 August 2026, read 13 October 2026

Overflows here are run by United Utilities.

57 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.

Nearest 5 shown

  1. KEEPER'S LANE CSO (472BH)

    Into TRIB OF RIVER WEAVER · 0.3 km from the centre of CW8

    10 spills · 6.1 hours · Monitored 96.5% of 2025

  2. 310-314 CHESTER ROAD CSO

    Into HANDFORTH BROOK VIA SWS · 1.2 km from the centre of CW8

    9 spills · 27.4 hours · Monitored 97.3% of 2025

  3. OWLEY WOOD ROAD CSO (IN SCOUT HUT)

    Into RIVER WEAVER · 1.2 km from the centre of CW8

    0 spills · 0 hours · Monitored 99.9% of 2025

  4. OWLEY WOOD ROAD CSO

    Into RIVER WEAVER · 1.2 km from the centre of CW8

    15 spills · 11 hours · Monitored 97.8% of 2025

  5. NORTHWICH WWTW

    Into RIVER WEAVER · 1.7 km from the centre of CW8

    29 spills · 249.1 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025

Annual 2025 figures from monitored overflows. Not live, and not a bathing-water or tap-water verdict.

  • 57 England outfalls in the 2025 return had no usable location and aren't counted.
  • Northern Ireland isn't covered: No licensed annual per-outfall source in the approved source list; BT postcode coordinates require an LPS licence.

Older homes and lead pipes

57% built before 1973

57% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.

Homes in the parts of CW8 we can match to council-tax records (100% of its postcodes) whose build period is known; the share with no recorded build period isn't published for these areas. Allowing for suppressed counts: 56–57%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).

Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.

CW8 (district) · 2026

Source: Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties — dated 31 March 2026, read 24 September 2026

Fluoride

We cannot confirm whether this area is part of a water fluoridation scheme. Ask your water supplier using your postcode.

About fluoride in UK water

Around one in ten people in England receive drinking water supplied by a fluoridation scheme.

England · 2026 health monitoring report

Source: UKHSA and DHSC — dated 30 March 2026, read 13 October 2026

Fluoride in UK tap water

Hosepipe bans

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See our privacy policy.

What you can do

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to amazon.com; Amazon's Earn Globally service can localise them to amazon.co.uk. Check the model and UK delivery before buying.

Water filter jugs

  • LifeStraw

    LSH7GLSPK21

    Performance certification:

    Certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 42 for Aesthetic Chlorine and Taste and Odor; Certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 53 for Lead and Mercury; Certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 401 for Microplastics (a US/international standard; it is not UK approval)

    reduces chlorine taste and odour in drinking water.

    A UK retailer lists this model. Amazon UK stock and delivery are unverified; this Amazon link may not ship to the UK. Check the exact model and UK delivery before you pay.

    UK availability evidence checked 14 October 2026.

    View Details

Shower filters

  • Weddell Water

    WD-100BL

    Performance certification:

    Certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI 177 for Free Available Chlorine Reduction (a US/international standard; it is not UK approval)

    reduces chlorine in shower water; does not soften water.

    A UK retailer lists this model. Amazon UK stock and delivery are unverified; this Amazon link may not ship to the UK. Check the exact model and UK delivery before you pay.

    Check it fits your shower fitting before buying; a US fitting may need an adaptor.

    UK availability evidence checked 14 October 2026.

    View Details

We haven't verified a lead test kit for UK buyers yet.

What a pick has to pass:

  • A lead result reported by a laboratory accredited for that test (UKAS, ISO/IEC 17025), named on the kit's listing
  • UK availability evidenced by Amazon UK, the manufacturer or a UK retailer, checked in the last 90 days

Start with your water company: if you think you have lead pipes, you can ask it to test the water at your kitchen tap. Which water test you need

Common water problems

Questions about tap water in CW8

Is the water in CW8 hard or soft?
United Utilities: slightly hard, 113 mg/l, 7.9 °Clark, 6.3 °dH, 11.3 °fH (Northwich West (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 40 samples). Zone average of 40 samples. United Utilities: soft, 48 mg/l, 3.4 °Clark, 2.7 °dH, 4.8 °fH (Kelsall (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 12 samples). Zone average of 12 samples. United Utilities: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report. United Utilities: slightly hard, 124 mg/l, 8.7 °Clark, 6.9 °dH, 12.4 °fH (Appleton (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 36 samples). Zone average of 36 samples. United Utilities: slightly hard, 112 mg/l, 7.9 °Clark, 6.3 °dH, 11.2 °fH (Winsford (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 49 samples). Zone average of 49 samples. United Utilities: slightly hard, 112 mg/l, 7.9 °Clark, 6.3 °dH, 11.2 °fH (Northwich East (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 39 samples). Zone average of 39 samples.
What does the drinking water regulator's record show for CW8?
United Utilities: at least 57 tests failed UK drinking-water standards in 2025 (DWI, company-wide). Some published DWI figures don't reconcile or identify a company, so we've left them out; the true number may be higher. England overall: 99.97% of tests met standards.
Could homes in CW8 have lead pipes?
57% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of CW8 we can match to council-tax records (100% of its postcodes) whose build period is known; the share with no recorded build period isn't published for these areas. Allowing for suppressed counts: 56–57%. England and Wales: 61% (2026). Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.
Is the water in CW8 fluoridated?
We cannot confirm whether this area is part of a water fluoridation scheme. Ask your water supplier using your postcode. Around one in ten people in England receive drinking water supplied by a fluoridation scheme.
Sources and method

United Utilities contact page, United Utilities, United Utilities, United Utilities, United Utilities, United Utilities: Database right, used under the publisher's terms.

Water company boundaries © Water UK, licensed under CC BY 4.0Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Data generation uk-2026-10-16-derive6

Check another postcode

By TapWaterData Editorial

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