Bristol Water

Bristol Water: drinking water supply in Bristol and its surroundings

Bristol Water is a water supply company serving 1.2 million people in the city of Bristol and surrounding areas. According to information on its website, it also supplies water to 500,000 homes and businesses in Bristol City, North Somerset and nearby areas. The company operates as part of South West Water Limited, which trades under the Bristol Water brand, and its company is registered in England with number 2366665.

Household services and bill management

The company offers its domestic customers a variety of services related to supply and billing. These include paying bills, detailed bill explanations, managing moves, registering for online billing and payment plans. For those struggling to pay, Bristol Water has plans to reduce bills or manage payments, as well as support for people with additional needs or disabilities, which includes meter reading, alternative bill formats, priority repairs and emergency bottled water supply.

The company also facilitates water meter applications, meter readings, a consumption calculator and information on meter-related rights. It also offers free water-saving devices through the Save Water Save Money initiative, and markets plumbing and drainage insurance through HomeServe for £1 per month for the first year, with a £30 excess, subject to terms and conditions.

Incident management and water quality

Bristol Water provides tools for customers to report supply, leak or water quality issues. The website allows checking ongoing incidents, accessing an interactive map of work in the area and verifying water quality by entering the postcode. The company also offers detailed information on water composition and quality regulations (Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018).

At the time of scanning, the website indicated that hosepipe restrictions had been introduced from 00:01 on Thursday 27 August, with the aim of protecting water resources.

Services for developers and the tourism sector

For the construction and real estate development sector, the company offers services such as new connections and mains, pre-development enquiries, locating existing assets, service connections, temporary and permanent disconnections, diversions and temporary supplies. It also provides information on charges and regulations, service standards and water regulations.

In the tourism sector, Bristol Water manages activities at its reservoirs and lakes, such as Blagdon Lake, Litton Lake, Cheddar Reservoir, Chew Valley Lake and Barrow Tanks. These facilities offer places to eat and drink, fly fishing (with permits and pricing), pike fishing (with specific dates and prices), predator season tickets, tuition and local guides, and a fish farm. The company publishes fishing reports and organises related events.

Community commitment and education

Through its foundation, Bristol Water develops educational programmes for schools in subjects such as science, geography and history, as well as resources on the environment and careers. The foundation also offers work experience, UWE internships, youth mentoring and a programme called CV Buster. In addition, the Better Futures Fund supports nature, wellbeing and learning projects in and around Bristol.

The company promotes water saving with practical tips, information on where water comes from, reservoir storage levels and campaigns such as Refill Revolution and The Water Bar.

Corporate information and future plans

Bristol Water publishes information about its history, values, innovation and executive team. Its plans include the Business Plan 2025-30, an open data strategy, the Bristol Water for all programme, long-term ambitions on drought and water resources, and regulatory policies. The company also reports on its financial and regulatory performance, and maintains a pollution incident reduction plan. The parent company, South West Water Limited, has its registered office at Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7HR, and its VAT number is 540 465 165.

Location and contact

Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7HR