Where Britain’s Water Is Hardest

It is well known that the majority of Britain’s population lives in ‘hard water’ areas. These are mostly in the southern half of the country and as this contains London and its hinterland, as well as Birmingham, it may come as little surprise that this accounts for 60...

River Sewage Problem ‘Needs Tackling’

The government has admitted there is a growing problem of sewage in British rivers, and is hoping to tackle this issue to make UK waterways safer for the public. Earlier this week, chief medical officer for England Chris Whitty, Ofwat chair Jonson Cox, and Environment...

The Story Of The World’s Worst Bottled Water Launch

What do the hard water area of Sidcup, the world’s largest soft drinks company and a famous episode of Only Fools and Horses have in common? The most infamous product launch disaster in UK history. In hard water areas when a block salt softener isn’t used, quite a few...

Data Highlights Thames Water Sewage Problem

Thames Water released raw sewage into the River Thames and surrounding waterways more than 5,000 times last year, having a huge impact on water quality for residents who use its water supply. The Oxford Rivers Improvement Campaign (ORIC) revealed it has looked at data...

Why The Chiltern Chalk Downs Are A Mixed Blessing

Anyone living in Berkshire will be at least a little familiar with the chalk downs that characterise so much of the landscape in the county and its neighbours, such as Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. This has both pros and cons for residents. On the plus side, much...

Can Hard Water Cause Dry Skin and Hair?

If you live in an area with hard water, such as the south east of England, and you go on holiday to an area with soft water, you may have noticed a change in your skin and hair. It feels silkier and softer, and needs less moisturiser or conditioner to keep it looking...

The Hardest And Softest Water In The UK

One of the most fascinating aspects of water is that depending on where you live it can have completely different properties, tastes and even health considerations. The differences between hard and soft water are most commonly seen when washing, as hard water forms...

What Are The Tell-tale Signs Of Hard Water?

When we what to find out if we live in an area with hard or soft water, we are often instructed to look at a map which specifically demarcates these areas of the UK. There are plenty available to view with a quick online search. However, these are often quite...

Water Bills Expected To Increase At The Start Of The Financial Year

Water bills are expected to increase in the UK by an average of 1.7 per cent, alongside increases to national insurance and the energy price cap. The forecast, as announced by industry body Water UK, will see the typical annual water bill increase to £419 per year,...

Is Shropshire Water Safe?

Shropshire residents have been left uncertain over whether it is safe to drink water from their tap, after the extent of local river pollution was revealed. According to BBC News, a significant amount of sewage passes through to the county’s waterways, thanks to old...