L40 tap water: what's in it?

Who supplies water in L40

Drinking-water test record

How hard is the water in L40?

Storm overflows nearby

Older homes and lead pipes

Fluoride

Hosepipe bans

What you can do

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)

• Why is my tap water brown?

  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 L40

Is the water in L40 hard or soft?

United Utilities: hard, 263 mg/l, 18.5 °Clark, 14.7 °dH, 26.3 °fH (Ormskirk (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 31 samples). Zone average of 31 samples. United Utilities: hard, 253 mg/l, 17.7 °Clark, 14.2 °dH, 25.3 °fH (Southport North (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 43 samples). Zone average of 43 samples. United Utilities: hard, 233 mg/l, 16.3 °Clark, 13.1 °dH, 23.3 °fH (Skelmersdale Lower (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 36 samples). Zone average of 36 samples. United Utilities: slightly hard, 136 mg/l, 9.5 °Clark, 7.6 °dH, 13.6 °fH (Heapey (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 53 samples). Zone average of 53 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: soft, 33 mg/l, 2.3 °Clark, 1.8 °dH, 3.3 °fH (Parbold (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 40 samples). Zone average of 40 samples. United Utilities: hard, 257 mg/l, 18.0 °Clark, 14.4 °dH, 25.7 °fH (Tarleton (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 25 samples). Zone average of 25 samples. United Utilities: hard, 256 mg/l, 18.0 °Clark, 14.3 °dH, 25.6 °fH (Birkdale (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 31 samples). Zone average of 31 samples.

What does the drinking water regulator's record show for L40?

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 L40 have lead pipes?

60% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of L40 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: 58–60%. 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 L40 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.