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Water In Your Home

Guernsey Water takes great care in collecting and treating rainwater in order to turn it into clean drinking water for our customers. Once this water is pumped into your home, it is important that it stays at the highest possible quality. In this section you can find out how to keep your water in the best possible condition.

 

Tap Hygiene

It is important that taps which are used for drinking water are kept clean. Whilst the water coming from your tap is safe, bacteria can live in and grow both on the outside of the tap and inside the lip of the spout. These bacteria are not visible to the naked eye, but the tap can become contaminated from food or items washed in the sink.

For this reason, you should never allow food or anything that could potentially contain bacteria to come into contact with the end of the tap.

bathroom taps

When Guernsey Water scientists take water samples from a customer's kitchen tap, they always sterilise the tap as best they can in order to get an accurate reading of the quality of the water leaving the tap.

A few tips to remember:

  • Regularly clean household taps thoroughly using a mild household disinfectant, ensuring that you wash inside the spout
  • After cleaning the tap, run it for a few moments to remove any remaining disinfectant
  • Don't leave the dishcloth on the tap to dry

Dishwashers And Washing Machines

Most dishwashers and washing machines are connected directly to the mains water supply but are sometimes not plumbed in correctly. All connections should include a single check valve (also known as a non-return valve) so that water within the flexible hoses or the dishwasher/washing machine itself cannot return to the mains supply and reach the kitchen tap. If it does, you may experience rubber or plastic tastes and odours in your tap water.

Also, flexible hoses can deteriorate over time and release traces of chemicals that can cause odd tastes and odours that are particularly noticeable in hot drinks. Fitting non-return valves will prevent this problem.

Water Filters

The quality of tap water in Guernsey is very high and is subject to strict testing and monitoring. It is perfectly safe and healthy to drink. However, some people prefer to use a water filter to help remove slight traces of chlorine from their drinking water. These filters can either be plumbed in to the mains supply or be separate, such as jug filters. With all types of filter, you should always follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation, use and maintenance.

Water Quality

Jug filters are designed to be small and portable and filter the water into a plastic container. The water they produce should be stored in a refrigerator and discarded after 24 hours as it may become contaminated by bacteria if it is kept for any longer.

These filters normally have a filter cartridge that needs to be replaced from time to time, it is vital that this is done, otherwise the cartridge may become damaged or split, resulting in bacteria filtered by the cartridge seeping back into the water.

Turning Off Your Water Supply

You should know the location of your internal stop tap/stopcock and ensure it works effectively. It can usually be found under the kitchen sink, in a downstairs bathroom or cloakroom, or in a cellar if your property has one.

If you get a leak or burst pipe inside your property you will need to turn off the internal stop tap to help prevent flooding or damage.

A winter scene

Preparing For Winter

When winter brings very cold temperatures, properties can suffer from frozen and cracked pipes.

Following these tips will help you to avoid these problems:

  • Fix any dripping taps or overflows as a gentle trickle of water can freeze and block the pipe
  • Check that your internal stop tap/stopcock is working by opening and closing it
  • Ensure that pipes in cold and draughty areas like roof spaces, outbuildings and garages are well insulated
  • Use waterproof insulation on all pipes exposed to the elements and ensure all lagging is kept dry. Wet lagging is useless
  • Remember to insulate any outside taps, or turn them off at the internal stop tap and leave the outside tap open to drain it
  • Ensure that your central heating system is serviced regularly
  • Keep your plumber's contact details handy in case of an emergency
  • Ensure that any storage tank in the roof space is adequately insulated around the sides and on the cover
  • Don't put any insulation underneath the storage tank as warm air from below will help prevent the water freezing

More information about Winter Care

 

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