DL2 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.
DL2 tap water quality report · 2026
Hardness
Soft
Lartington WTW to Longnewton Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Details
Lartington WTW to Longnewton 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
62 overflows within 10 km of DL2 centre
775 spills in 2025
Details
775 spills in 2025
Lead pipes
46% built before 1973
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of DL2 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: 45–46%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Details
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of DL2 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: 45–46%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Who supplies water in DL2
Part of Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water
Supplies 837 of 844 postcodes (99%)
Sewerage: Usually Northumbrian Water — they provide water and sewerage across most of their area. Your water bill confirms yours.
Also supplied here: Yorkshire Water (5 of 844 postcodes (1%))
Boundary or unplaced: 2 postcodes
Drinking-water test record
Northumbrian Water: 837 of 844 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
Yorkshire Water: 5 of 844 postcodes
Yorkshire Water
Yorkshire Water, company-wide
- Regulator
- DWI
- Report year
- 2025
- Failed tests
- Not shown
- Tests
- 388,919
The regulator's published total and its company rows disagree, so we don't show a count.
| Parameter | Failed tests |
|---|---|
| E. coli (confirmed) | Failed tests: 4 |
| Enterococci (confirmed) | Failed tests: 2 |
| Iron | Failed tests: 20 |
| Lead | Failed tests: 6 |
| Nickel | Failed tests: 7 |
| Total coliforms (confirmed) | Failed tests: 30 |
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 DL2?
81% of DL2's postcodes are in the Lartington WTW to Longnewton Zone supply zone (Northumbrian Water): 77 mg/l, soft.
Lartington WTW to Longnewton Zone · Northumbrian Water (686 of 844 postcodes)
77 mg/l · 5.4 °Clark · 4.3 °dH · 7.7 °fH
Zone average.
Lartington WTW to Longnewton Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
8 identified supply zones in DL2
Lartington WTW to Longnewton Zone · Northumbrian Water (686 of 844 postcodes)
77 mg/l · 5.4 °Clark · 4.3 °dH · 7.7 °fH
Zone average.
Lartington WTW to Longnewton Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Sadberge Zone · Northumbrian Water (48 of 844 postcodes)
128 mg/l · 9.0 °Clark · 7.2 °dH · 12.8 °fH
Zone average.
Sadberge Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Tunstall · Northumbrian Water (36 of 844 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
Darlington Zone · Northumbrian Water (27 of 844 postcodes)
148 mg/l · 10.4 °Clark · 8.3 °dH · 14.8 °fH
Zone average.
Darlington Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Sedgefield & Aycliffe Zone · Northumbrian Water (14 of 844 postcodes)
81 mg/l · 5.7 °Clark · 4.6 °dH · 8.1 °fH
Zone average.
Sedgefield & Aycliffe Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Catterick and Richmond 2019 · Yorkshire Water (2 of 844 postcodes)
227 mg/l · 16.0 °Clark · 12.7 °dH · 22.7 °fH
Zone average.
Catterick and Richmond 2019 (supply zone) · 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Source: Yorkshire Water — dated 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, read 28 September 2026
Northallerton and Thirsk 2019 · Yorkshire Water (2 of 844 postcodes)
274 mg/l · 19.3 °Clark · 15.4 °dH · 27.4 °fH
Zone average.
Northallerton and Thirsk 2019 (supply zone) · 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Source: Yorkshire Water — dated 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, read 30 September 2026
Butterknowles & Staindrop Zone · Northumbrian Water (1 of 844 postcodes)
77 mg/l · 5.4 °Clark · 4.3 °dH · 7.7 °fH
Zone average.
Butterknowles & Staindrop Zone (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025
Source: Northumbrian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026
26 postcodes without an identified supply zone
Northumbrian Water (25 of 844 postcodes)
We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
Yorkshire Water (1 of 844 postcodes)
We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
Storm overflows nearby
62 overflows within 10 km of DL2 centre · 775 spills in 2025
DL2 (district) · 2025
Source: Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 — dated 20 August 2026, read 13 October 2026
Overflows here are run by Northumbrian Water and Yorkshire Water.
60 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.
Nearest 5 shown
EDINBURGH DRIVE CSO
Into TEES TRIBUTARY · 1.2 km from the centre of DL2
7 spills · 18.5 hours · Monitored 95% of 2025
BROKEN BLACKWELL SCAR PS
Into River Tees · 1.2 km from the centre of DL2
2 spills · 1.7 hours · Monitored 87.6% of 2025
CSO AT WOODLAND ROAD
Into Cocker Beck · 1.3 km from the centre of DL2
0 spills · 0 hours · Monitored 99.5% of 2025
DENE GROVE CSO
Into COCKER BECK · 1.4 km from the centre of DL2
4 spills · 7.1 hours · Monitored 99.6% of 2025
SPRING COURT CSO DL006
Into WEST BECK · 1.7 km from the centre of DL2
4 spills · 6.6 hours · Monitored 88.4% 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
46% built before 1973
46% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.
Homes in the parts of DL2 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: 45–46%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.
DL2 (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 DL2
- Is the water in DL2 hard or soft?
- Northumbrian Water: soft, 77 mg/l, 5.4 °Clark, 4.3 °dH, 7.7 °fH (Lartington WTW to Longnewton Zone (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. Northumbrian Water: slightly hard, 128 mg/l, 9.0 °Clark, 7.2 °dH, 12.8 °fH (Sadberge 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: slightly hard, 148 mg/l, 10.4 °Clark, 8.3 °dH, 14.8 °fH (Darlington Zone (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, 81 mg/l, 5.7 °Clark, 4.6 °dH, 8.1 °fH (Sedgefield & Aycliffe Zone (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. Yorkshire Water: hard, 227 mg/l, 16.0 °Clark, 12.7 °dH, 22.7 °fH (Catterick and Richmond 2019 (supply zone), 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024). Zone average. Yorkshire Water: hard, 274 mg/l, 19.3 °Clark, 15.4 °dH, 27.4 °fH (Northallerton and Thirsk 2019 (supply zone), 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024). Zone average. Northumbrian Water: soft, 77 mg/l, 5.4 °Clark, 4.3 °dH, 7.7 °fH (Butterknowles & Staindrop Zone (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. Yorkshire Water: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
- What does the drinking water regulator's record show for DL2?
- 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 DL2 have lead pipes?
- 46% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of DL2 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: 45–46%. 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 DL2 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
- Northumbrian Water ↗ · January 2025 to December 2025 · read 28 September 2026
- Northumbrian Water ↗ · January 2025 to December 2025 · read 28 September 2026
- Yorkshire Water ↗ · 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 · 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, Northumbrian Water, Northumbrian Water, Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire Water, Northumbrian Water: Database right, used under the publisher's terms.
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Data generation uk-2026-10-16-derive6