DL15 tap water: what's in it?
Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water group (figures include Northumbrian Water): at least 36 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.
DL15 tap water quality report · 2026
Hardness
Soft
Oliver Burn Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Details
Oliver Burn Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Hosepipe ban
No hosepipe ban
Checked 11 October 2026 at 02:34
Details
Checked 11 October 2026 at 02:34
Storm overflows
123 overflows within 10 km of DL15 centre
2,624 spills in 2025
Details
2,624 spills in 2025
Lead pipes
64% built before 1973
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of DL15 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: 63–64%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Details
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of DL15 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: 63–64%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Who supplies water in DL15
Part of Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water
Supplies 707 of 707 postcodes (100%)
Sewerage: Usually Northumbrian Water — they provide water and sewerage across most of their area. Your water bill confirms yours.
Drinking-water test record
Northumbrian Water: 707 of 707 postcodes
Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water group, includes Northumbrian Water
- Regulator
- DWI
- Report year
- 2025
- Failed tests
- Not shown
- Tests
- 266,202
The regulator's published total and its company rows disagree, so we don't show a count.
| Parameter | Failed tests |
|---|---|
| Aluminium | Failed tests: 4 |
| E. coli (confirmed) | Failed tests: 3 |
| Enterococci (confirmed) | Failed tests: 1 |
| Iron | Failed tests: 9 |
| Lead | Failed tests: 5 |
| Manganese | Failed tests: 3 |
| Nickel | Failed tests: 2 |
| Nitrite – consumers taps | Failed tests: 1 |
| Sodium | Failed tests: 1 |
| Total coliforms (confirmed) | Failed tests: 7 |
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 DL15?
55% of DL15's postcodes are in the Oliver Burn Zone supply zone (Northumbrian Water): 67 mg/l, soft.
Oliver Burn Zone · Northumbrian Water (388 of 707 postcodes)
67 mg/l · 4.7 °Clark · 3.7 °dH · 6.7 °fH
Zone average.
Oliver Burn Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
3 identified supply zones in DL15
Oliver Burn Zone · Northumbrian Water (388 of 707 postcodes)
67 mg/l · 4.7 °Clark · 3.7 °dH · 6.7 °fH
Zone average.
Oliver Burn Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Tunstall · Northumbrian Water (310 of 707 postcodes)
73 mg/l · 5.1 °Clark · 4.1 °dH · 7.3 °fH
Zone average.
Tunstall (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Wear Valley Zone · Northumbrian Water (1 of 707 postcodes)
73 mg/l · 5.1 °Clark · 4.1 °dH · 7.3 °fH
Zone average.
Wear Valley Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
8 postcodes without an identified supply zone
Northumbrian Water (8 of 707 postcodes)
We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
Storm overflows nearby
123 overflows within 10 km of DL15 centre · 2,624 spills in 2025
DL15 (district) · 2025
Source: Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 — dated 20 August 2026, read 13 October 2026
Overflows here are run by Northumbrian Water.
122 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.
Nearest 5 shown
BLADESIDE CSO
Into CROOK BECK · 0.8 km from the centre of DL15
54 spills · 329.6 hours · Monitored 97% of 2025
ULSWATER CRESCENT CSO
Into CROOK BECK · 0.8 km from the centre of DL15
14 spills · 13.5 hours · Monitored 99.4% of 2025
WEST ROAD CSO
Into CROOK BECK, TRIBUTARY OF · 1.1 km from the centre of DL15
37 spills · 187.5 hours · Monitored 92.9% of 2025
THE HOLLOWS CSO WV50
Into BEECHBURN BECK · 1.4 km from the centre of DL15
38 spills · 164.6 hours · Monitored 99.1% of 2025
PEASES WEST CSO
Into CROOK BECK · 1.6 km from the centre of DL15
48 spills · 411.1 hours · Monitored 98.1% 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
64% built before 1973
64% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.
Homes in the parts of DL15 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: 63–64%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.
DL15 (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.
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
Hosepipe bans
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)
View Detailsreduces 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.
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)
View Detailsreduces 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.
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
How much does a water softener cost in the UK?
Water softener cost UK 2026: price by home size
Why is my tap water cloudy or white?
Why is my tap water cloudy or white? (UK)
Brown tap water: causes and what to do (UK)
Why does my tap water taste metallic?
Tap water tastes metallic? Causes and fixes (UK)
Questions about tap water in DL15
- Is the water in DL15 hard or soft?
- Northumbrian Water: soft, 67 mg/l, 4.7 °Clark, 3.7 °dH, 6.7 °fH (Oliver Burn Zone (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. Northumbrian Water: soft, 73 mg/l, 5.1 °Clark, 4.1 °dH, 7.3 °fH (Tunstall (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. Northumbrian Water: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report. Northumbrian Water: soft, 73 mg/l, 5.1 °Clark, 4.1 °dH, 7.3 °fH (Wear Valley Zone (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average.
- What does the drinking water regulator's record show for DL15?
- Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water group (figures include Northumbrian Water): at least 36 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 DL15 have lead pipes?
- 64% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of DL15 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: 63–64%. 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 DL15 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
- Water Company Boundaries (UC2) ↗ · 19 September 2026 · read 20 September 2026
- Northumbrian Water contact page ↗ · 13 October 2026 · read 13 October 2026
- DWI england 2025, Annex B ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- DWI england 2025, national compliance ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- Northumbrian Water ↗ · January 2025 to December 2025 · read 28 September 2026
- Northumbrian Water ↗ · January 2025 to December 2025 · read 28 September 2026
- Northumbrian Water ↗ · January 2025 to December 2025 · read 28 September 2026
- Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties ↗ · 2026 · read 24 September 2026
- UKHSA and DHSC ↗ · 2026 health monitoring report · read 13 October 2026
- Environment Agency ↗ · 11 October 2026 · read 11 October 2026
Northumbrian Water contact page, Northumbrian Water, Northumbrian Water, Northumbrian Water: Database right, used under the publisher's terms.
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Data generation uk-2026-10-16-derive6