WA7 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.
WA7 tap water quality report · 2026
Hardness
Soft
Runcorn East (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 51 samples
Details
Runcorn East (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 51 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
65 overflows within 10 km of WA7 centre
1,566 spills in 2025
Details
1,566 spills in 2025
Lead pipes
43% built before 1973
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of WA7 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: 43–44%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Details
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of WA7 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: 43–44%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Who supplies water in WA7
Supplies 1,514 of 1,518 postcodes (100%)
Sewerage: Usually United Utilities — they provide water and sewerage across most of their area. Your water bill confirms yours.
Boundary or unplaced: 4 postcodes
Drinking-water test record
United Utilities: 1,514 of 1,518 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 WA7?
68% of WA7's postcodes are in the Runcorn East supply zone (United Utilities): 16 mg/l, soft.
Runcorn East · United Utilities (1,038 of 1,518 postcodes)
16 mg/l · 1.1 °Clark · 0.9 °dH · 1.6 °fH
Zone average of 51 samples.
Runcorn East (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 51 samples
Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026
3 identified supply zones in WA7
Runcorn East · United Utilities (1,038 of 1,518 postcodes)
16 mg/l · 1.1 °Clark · 0.9 °dH · 1.6 °fH
Zone average of 51 samples.
Runcorn East (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 51 samples
Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026
Runcorn West And Frodsham · United Utilities (367 of 1,518 postcodes)
92 mg/l · 6.5 °Clark · 5.2 °dH · 9.2 °fH
Zone average of 25 samples.
Runcorn West And Frodsham (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 25 samples
Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 30 September 2026
Appleton · United Utilities (82 of 1,518 postcodes)
124 mg/l · 8.7 °Clark · 6.9 °dH · 12.4 °fH
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
27 postcodes without an identified supply zone
United Utilities (27 of 1,518 postcodes)
We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
Storm overflows nearby
65 overflows within 10 km of WA7 centre · 1,566 spills in 2025
WA7 (district) · 2025
Source: Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 — dated 20 August 2026, read 13 October 2026
Overflows here are run by United Utilities.
55 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.
Nearest 5 shown
RUNCORN TOWN HALL CSO
Into WILLOW BROOK · 1.5 km from the centre of WA7
4 spills · 9 hours · Monitored 99.8% of 2025
LABURNUM GROVE
Into Willow Brook · 1.5 km from the centre of WA7
102 spills · 1,772.3 hours · Monitored 94.3% of 2025
WINDSOR GROVE
Into Willow Brook · 1.5 km from the centre of WA7
2 spills · 0.4 hours · Monitored 99.4% of 2025
HARDWICK ROAD CSO
Into Manchester Ship Canal · 1.7 km from the centre of WA7
34 spills · 99.8 hours · Monitored 99.8% of 2025
HALTON BROW CSO 203EF
Into Manchester Ship Canal · 1.7 km from the centre of WA7
61 spills · 66.3 hours · Monitored 96.5% 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
43% built before 1973
43% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.
Homes in the parts of WA7 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: 43–44%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.
WA7 (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
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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 WA7
- Is the water in WA7 hard or soft?
- United Utilities: soft, 16 mg/l, 1.1 °Clark, 0.9 °dH, 1.6 °fH (Runcorn East (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 51 samples). Zone average of 51 samples. United Utilities: soft, 92 mg/l, 6.5 °Clark, 5.2 °dH, 9.2 °fH (Runcorn West And Frodsham (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 25 samples). Zone average of 25 samples. 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: 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 WA7?
- 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 WA7 have lead pipes?
- 43% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of WA7 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: 43–44%. 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 WA7 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; 51 samples · read 30 September 2026
- United Utilities ↗ · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 25 samples · read 30 September 2026
- United Utilities ↗ · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 36 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: 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