OL4 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.
OL4 tap water quality report · 2026
Hardness
Soft
Lowbrook (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 58 samples
Details
Lowbrook (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 58 samples
Hosepipe ban
Not available
We can't confirm the hosepipe-ban status for United Utilities from the information we hold.
Details
We can't confirm the hosepipe-ban status for United Utilities from the information we hold.
Storm overflows
165 overflows within 10 km of OL4 centre
3,122 spills in 2025
Details
3,122 spills in 2025
Lead pipes
74% built before 1973
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of OL4 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: 73–74%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Details
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of OL4 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: 73–74%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Who supplies water in OL4
Supplies 1,048 of 1,048 postcodes (100%)
Sewerage: Usually United Utilities — they provide water and sewerage across most of their area. Your water bill confirms yours.
Drinking-water test record
United Utilities: 1,048 of 1,048 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.
| Parameter | Failed tests |
|---|---|
| Aluminium | Failed tests: 5 |
| E. coli (confirmed) | Failed tests: 4 |
| Iron | Failed tests: 18 |
| Lead | Failed tests: 7 |
| Manganese | Failed tests: 7 |
| Nickel | Failed 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 OL4?
Across OL4's supply zones, hardness ranges from 24 mg/l (soft) to 45 mg/l (soft). Those 5 zones cover 100% of its postcodes.
5 identified supply zones in OL4
Lowbrook · United Utilities (424 of 1,048 postcodes)
24 mg/l · 1.7 °Clark · 1.3 °dH · 2.4 °fH
Zone average of 58 samples.
Lowbrook (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 58 samples
Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 29 September 2026
Counthill · United Utilities (297 of 1,048 postcodes)
26 mg/l · 1.8 °Clark · 1.5 °dH · 2.6 °fH
Zone average of 31 samples.
Counthill (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 31 samples
Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 29 September 2026
Sholver · United Utilities (265 of 1,048 postcodes)
45 mg/l · 3.2 °Clark · 2.5 °dH · 4.5 °fH
Zone average of 40 samples.
Sholver (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 40 samples
Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 29 September 2026
Stalybridge · United Utilities (29 of 1,048 postcodes)
44 mg/l · 3.1 °Clark · 2.5 °dH · 4.4 °fH
Zone average of 36 samples.
Stalybridge (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
Harpley · United Utilities (28 of 1,048 postcodes)
45 mg/l · 3.2 °Clark · 2.5 °dH · 4.5 °fH
Zone average of 26 samples.
Harpley (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 26 samples
Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026
5 postcodes without an identified supply zone
United Utilities (5 of 1,048 postcodes)
We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
Storm overflows nearby
165 overflows within 10 km of OL4 centre · 3,122 spills in 2025
OL4 (district) · 2025
Source: Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 — dated 20 August 2026, read 13 October 2026
Overflows here are run by United Utilities.
143 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.
Nearest 5 shown
TBC
Into Thornley Brook · 1.3 km from the centre of OL4
0 spills · 0 hours · Monitored 81.5% of 2025
TBC
Into River Irwell · 1.3 km from the centre of OL4
0 spills · 0 hours · Monitored 92.2% of 2025
WOODBROOK ROAD CSO
Into WOOD BROOK · 1.5 km from the centre of OL4
2 spills · 2.7 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025
STONELEIGH PARK CSO
Into RIVER BEAL VIA SWS · 1.9 km from the centre of OL4
11 spills · 10.4 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025
ABBEYHILLS COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW
Into CULVERT GLODWICK BROOK · 2 km from the centre of OL4
2 spills · 1.2 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
74% built before 1973
74% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.
Homes in the parts of OL4 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: 73–74%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.
OL4 (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 OL4
- Is the water in OL4 hard or soft?
- United Utilities: soft, 24 mg/l, 1.7 °Clark, 1.3 °dH, 2.4 °fH (Lowbrook (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 58 samples). Zone average of 58 samples. United Utilities: soft, 26 mg/l, 1.8 °Clark, 1.5 °dH, 2.6 °fH (Counthill (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 31 samples). Zone average of 31 samples. United Utilities: soft, 45 mg/l, 3.2 °Clark, 2.5 °dH, 4.5 °fH (Sholver (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 40 samples). Zone average of 40 samples. United Utilities: soft, 44 mg/l, 3.1 °Clark, 2.5 °dH, 4.4 °fH (Stalybridge (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 36 samples). Zone average of 36 samples. United Utilities: soft, 45 mg/l, 3.2 °Clark, 2.5 °dH, 4.5 °fH (Harpley (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 26 samples). Zone average of 26 samples. United Utilities: 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 OL4?
- 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 OL4 have lead pipes?
- 74% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of OL4 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: 73–74%. 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 OL4 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
- United Utilities 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
- United Utilities ↗ · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 58 samples · read 29 September 2026
- United Utilities ↗ · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 31 samples · read 29 September 2026
- United Utilities ↗ · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 40 samples · read 29 September 2026
- United Utilities ↗ · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 36 samples · read 30 September 2026
- United Utilities ↗ · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 26 samples · read 30 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
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