My water pressure

Water pressure is a measure of the force that pushes water through our pipes and into your property, measured in metres. Flow is a measure of how quickly we supply water to you, and is usually measured in litres per minute. The flow and pressure we supply are linked to each other and have a dynamic relationship. Our network is designed to ensure every home has a plentiful supply of water and that we meet or exceed the minimum standards for both pressure and flow. When pressure is low, the flow of water is less powerful and therefore it can take longer to fill a glass of water or run a bath.

• Service reservoir height: The distance that your home is below the service reservoir or water tower providing your supply.

• Water use: How much water other customers are using at the same time.

• Pump proximity: How close you live to one of our pumping stations.

• Pressure management: How we actively regulate network pressures using pump controls or Pressure Regulating Valves.

We’re always keeping an eye on water pressure because it helps us to save water and keep the cost of bills down for our customers. We call this pressure management and it’s how we maintain and regulate water pressures within our distribution network.

Lower pressure means less water use, which will save you money and put less strain on the environment. Monitoring pressure ensures that everyone has a constant supply and keeps the pressure in the pipes at a suitable level that won’t lead to bursts and leaks.

As anyone who has ever marched up Park Street will attest, Bristol is far from flat. Our varied landscape means that pressures vary as our network of pipes traverse the Mendip Hills, the Cotswold Escarpment and every valley in between.

When the weather gets warmer, it’s common for some customers to experience a drop in their water pressure during peak times. As temperatures rise, water use tends to increase as we try to cool down with showers, hoses and paddling pools. When lots of people in your area have a shower to cool off or turn on the taps to fill up their paddling pools, it can affect your water pressure.

When summer gets into full swing and we experience long, hot days, please carefully consider your water use. For instance, it’s essential that we all keep cool, but there are other ways we can do this without filling up a paddling pool, such as seeking shade or taking a break from the sun by sitting inside. If you or your children have been in a paddling pool or the bath, reuse that water to hydrate your plants or water your lawn. The plants won’t know the difference but your water bill will.

Savvy water usage not only helps to reduce your water bills by cutting usage, it also reduces the frequency of burst water pipes and uses less water from our local rivers and lakes.

Check for work in your area

Temporary work in your area can lead to reduced water pressure for a short amount of time. See work happening in your area.

Check with your neighbours

Are they also experiencing a change in water pressure? If not, then it could be a problem specific to the pipe to your property, private plumbing or a specific appliance.

Check your internal stop tap

One of the first things to check is the condition of your internal stop tap and how well it is working. Screw-down pattern taps are designed to be fully open or fully closed, do not leave them mid-position or throttled. Do not try regulating high-water pressure by partially closing your stop tap – it does not work as the valve does not adjust to different flow rates. Different areas have varying water pressure. If you have high water pressure, try regulating that pressure by closing your stop tap ever so slightly. How to find & operate your stop tap.

Check your service valves

Service valves allow you to stop the flow of water into a specific appliance instead of shutting off the water supply to the property completely. They should be left in a fully open position – like stop taps, they are not designed to be throttled.

Check for an airlock

Airlocks can cause problems with water supply throughout the home. Check for an airlock by testing your stop tap. To do this, run the cold kitchen tap, turn the internal stop tap off until the water stops, then back on again.

Check your plumbing

Low pressure to appliances within the home can sometimes be caused or accentuated by poor plumbing facilities. Small bore piping that takes long routes with excessive bends and fittings all add restrictions to the flow of water. The water pressure is used up as it forces water around all the bends and restrictions to the point of use – this is known as head loss. Head loss can be reduced by increasing the diameter of pipework.

Limescale build-up

A build-up of limescale can restrict the diameter of your pipes and reduce the flow of water. Limescale can be especially noticeable on shower heads and taps with aerators. Having a limescale build-up doesn’t mean that you haven’t been keeping your taps and shower clean – we just happen to have lots of minerals in our water as we live in a hard water area. If your water pressure is lower due to a limescale build-up, there are a number of solutions. You can replace tap aerators or remove the limescale with specialist limescale removing products (many people use lemon juice or vinegar).

Changes in water pressure won’t mean that you have less water, it might just take you a bit longer to fill up your kettle. Although a drop in water pressure isn't usually anything to worry about, there are some steps you can take to stop your water pressure from dropping too low.

Use a water butt instead of a garden hose

If you’re a keen gardener, why not make use of a water butt rather than a hose? Unlike a hose, a water butt will provide you with a bountiful supply of free water that won't impact the pressure of other appliances – and it will save you money, especially if you have a water meter.

Make the most of your washing machine

When it comes to putting a load on, make sure you're filling your washing machine to the brim. Washing machines operate at maximum efficiency when the drum is full, so don't be shy, chuck that extra pair of socks in

Use our FREE water-saving products

Did you know that we offer a whole host of free water-saving products? These products help you to make small changes to your daily routine, such as knocking a few minutes off your morning shower or turning the tap off when you brush your teeth. This can help to free up water for other household appliances and save money on your water bill.

The water pressure feeding your home can change, especially in the warmer weather when the demand is higher for water. Please get in touch if you have no water or are experiencing very low pressure.

If you have a less urgent enquiry about the water pressure to your home, you can contact us through any of our channels.

For emergencies call 0345 702 3797

Check for known problems Non-urgent enquiries

Our promise sets out the minimum standards of service you can expect for your water supply, billing arrangements, water quality and new connection enquiries.

When it comes to water pressure, we will provide you with a good flow at your tap by maintaining a minimum pressure of 1.0 bar at the point where our responsibility ends. If pressure falls below this on two occasions, each lasting more than one hour within a 28-day period, we will pay you £25. Get in touch with us to make a claim for this.

We have service standards which are agreed with Ofwat that require a minimum supply pressure of 7 metres head (approximately 0.7 bar), measured at the point where our communication pipe joins your supply pipe. Internally, we try to improve on this and provide at least 15 metres head (approximately 14 psi or 1.0 bar) at the end of our communication pipes, although this is not guaranteed.

* Customer bills will only be affected if you are on a water meter.

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