Where Does Tap Water Come From in the UK?

Ever considered how easily water comes out when you turn the tap handle in your kitchen? Well, the truth about the water that comes out of your tap today has been surprising many people. In the UK, the water that comes out of the tap today happens to be the safest in the world. Well, the journey of water from the natural resource to the tap has been quite complicated.

In the United Kingdom, tap water is mostly drawn from two sources: surface water and groundwater. Examples of surface water include rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. This represents most of the water resources in the UK. Determining the exact source depends greatly on your location.

The main sources of water are river and reservoir sources. Areas like London and Manchester depend greatly on surface water sources that are stored in reservoirs like the Thames Water and United Utilities schemes.

Scotland has plenty of natural lochs as well as rainfall; therefore, Scotland gets water mainly from surface sources. Scottish Water harvests water from sources like Loch Katrine, supplying water to Glasgow among other cities.

Water sources come primarily from Loughs (lakes), like Lough Neagh . Afterward, the water is treated by the Northern Ireland Water.

In total, tap water treatment consists of four steps. Let's look at each stage. Raw water drawn from rivers or underground sources isn’t clean for human consumption. This water goes through a series of treatment processes at water treatment plants before being supplied to residences through pipes. Here is a simplified breakdown of the basic steps:

Large materials such as leaves, branches, and plastic are removed through a screening process. Chemicals such as aluminum sulphate are also employed to bind smaller particles together to form larger chunks called flocs.

The water is allowed to sit in tanks as the heavier particulates fall to the bottom.

The purified water travels through filters made up of sand, gravel, and sometimes activated carbon.

This stage is very important. Chlorine or Ultraviolet light is used to disinfect the water. This kills the bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microbes.

In order to avoid corroding the pipes through which water flows, the water's pH level has to be adjusted. In some parts of the UK, fluoride is also used in water.

Related article: Do Water Filters Remove Fluoride?

Ultimately, purified water is supplied to thousands of miles of pipes in order to reach the residences and businesses.

If you ever paid attention to the fact that the water in London tastes differently from water in the Scottish Highlands, the reason isn’t your imagination. Tap water tastes differently based on the source of the water.

Hard water has more calcium and magnesium. This type of water tends to come from areas like London and the Midlands because the water has to flow through chalk and limestone.

Hard water has higher mineral concentration. Hard water can also be found in Scotland, Wales, and other areas of Northern England.

Hard water isn’t harmful to drink. In fact, it can:

• Let limescale remain in taps, kettles, and pipes
• Make soap and detergent less effective
• Make hot beverages taste different

A water filtration system such as the Waterdrop Reverse Osmosis water filter can assist in removing the hardness and improving the taste of the water to ensure that the water tastes the same no matter the location.

At times, the water appears cloudy or milky when first poured. This can easily be attributed to the formation of tiny bubbles of air. This should clear in a few seconds.

If your tap water has a smell of chlorine or metal, the following could be the reason:

• Chlorine residues from treatment
• Copper pipe corrosion (particularly in older houses)
• Stagnant water present in the pipes

Let the tap water flow for a few seconds before use or filter the water through a carbon block filter.

Although the tap water in the UK has been considered among the cleanest globally, many families choose to filter their water because:

• Improved taste and smell
• Removal of chlorine, microplastics, and heavy metals
• Hard water can prevent the steam produced during the brewing of teas and coffee

A Waterdrop RO water filtration system can be considered the best option for those looking for water purity assurance. This water filtration system has a multi-stage filtration process that can filter up to 99% of pollutants like chlorine, lead, PFAS, and microplastics from water. Invest in a countertop reverse osmosis system if your undersink space is small.

Despite the fact that tap water in the UK meets strict requirements, the water industry has numerous challenges in the present era:

• Aging Infrastructure: Many water pipes were installed many years ago.
• Microplastics and PFAS: New contaminants like microplastics and PFOA/PFAS are emerging.
• Climate Change: Droughts and floods can impact the availability as well as the quality of water.
• Increased Demand: Population rise and urbanization are exerting pressure on the water resources.

While all these issues continue to develop and unfold, more families find the use of water purification systems at home to be a great solution.

In the UK, the water supply comes from “rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and underground aquifers. Though it can be considered safe for consumption, certain contaminants such as chlorine, microplastics, and mineral residues found in hard water can pose effects. However, if you are looking for a convenient means to enjoy clean and fresh water at the convenience of your own home, the Waterdrop water filter can be the best investment. This product uses the latest reverse osmosis technology.