Tap water

Three clear glass mugs of water with lime pieces on a white background

Why is my hot water cloudy when the cold is clear?

Part of our tap water guide The cold tap runs clear and the hot tap looks like milk, or like tea. Is that the boiler, the tank or the pipes?...

Why is my hot water cloudy when the cold is clear?

Part of our tap water guide The cold tap runs clear and the hot tap looks like milk, or like tea. Is that the boiler, the tank or the pipes?...

A glass of water beside a printed report and a test strip pot on a kitchen worktop

What are the WHO drinking water guidelines, and...

Part of our tap water guide A WHO number and a UK number can look alike on paper, yet only one of them is law. Here is where they match,...

What are the WHO drinking water guidelines, and...

Part of our tap water guide A WHO number and a UK number can look alike on paper, yet only one of them is law. Here is where they match,...

Tap water pouring into a clear glass against a soft pale blue background

Can you drink tap water in Scotland?

The official figures are high. Scotland's regulator, the DWQR, reports that 99.88% of 137,947 tests on samples from consumers' taps met the legal standards in 2025. Edinburgh's water comes from...

Can you drink tap water in Scotland?

The official figures are high. Scotland's regulator, the DWQR, reports that 99.88% of 137,947 tests on samples from consumers' taps met the legal standards in 2025. Edinburgh's water comes from...

Misty river at dawn with reeds and soft pale sky, a calm natural source of water

Where does UK tap water come from, and how is i...

Rivers, reservoirs and underground aquifers, and in a few places the sea, according to Water UK. The Drinking Water Inspectorate counted 1,184 surface, 976 groundwater and 241 mixed sources in...

Where does UK tap water come from, and how is i...

Rivers, reservoirs and underground aquifers, and in a few places the sea, according to Water UK. The Drinking Water Inspectorate counted 1,184 surface, 976 groundwater and 241 mixed sources in...

A clear glass kettle with boiling water beside a glass of water

Does boiling tap water make it cleaner?

Of germs, yes, but not of everything. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) says boiling kills or inactivates bacteria, viruses and parasites, and that stored boiled water should be thrown away...

Does boiling tap water make it cleaner?

Of germs, yes, but not of everything. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) says boiling kills or inactivates bacteria, viruses and parasites, and that stored boiled water should be thrown away...

Chrome bathroom tap over a white basin with grey tiles and a small soap bar in soft light

Is there fluoride in UK tap water?

Yes. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) says fluoride occurs naturally at low levels in most English and Welsh water, and some English supplies have it added to reach 1 mg/l....

Is there fluoride in UK tap water?

Yes. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) says fluoride occurs naturally at low levels in most English and Welsh water, and some English supplies have it added to reach 1 mg/l....