Tap Water in EX16
Allers Supply Zone — South West Water
Tap water in Allers Supply Zone, supplied by South West Water, has the character of soft upland reservoir water, common in the north and west. It’s soft water, low in dissolved minerals, with a total hardness of 59 mg/L as CaCO₃.
Mineral composition
| mg/L | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 24 | ||
| Magnesium | 0 | ||
| Sodium | 7 | ||
| Sulfate | 12 | ||
| Chloride | 15 | ||
| Bicarbonate | ~50 | ||
| ~ Estimated from hardness and ion balance — not directly measured by the water company. | |||
Additional info
| Hardness | 59 as CaCO₃ |
| Alkalinity | 41.2 as CaCO₃ |
| pH | 7.91 |
| Conductivity | 148.79 µS/cm |
| Source | South West Water |
| Data year | 2024 |
What this means
Kettle & appliances
At this level of hardness, limescale is essentially a non-issue. Kettles, boilers, and heating elements will stay clean without treatment.
Espresso
Soft water is forgiving on espresso machines (no scale risk) but can produce a thinner, more acidic shot. The low mineral content means less buffering, so bright and sour notes tend to dominate. That said, lighter roasts can shine here in ways they won’t in harder water.
Filter & pour-over
This is where soft water shows its range. A V60 or Chemex will produce a bright, clean, highly readable cup with clear origin character. Light and medium roasts tend to be at their most expressive. It can tip into sourness with very light roasts, but for most specialty filter coffee, this water is close to ideal.
Drinking & cooking
This water tastes clean and neutral. It lathers easily, rinses cleanly, and won’t leave mineral deposits on glassware or cookware.
Bicarbonate
Extremely high buffering that makes this water difficult to work with for any brewing or coffee application without significant dilution or acid treatment: mash pH will sit stubbornly high, extraction will be unbalanced, and espresso will taste flat and chalky with no discernible acidity.
Get the best from your water
EX16 tap water works well for espresso, baking, aquarium use, tea, and horticulture with little or no adjustment. Brewing is within reach with salt additions.
Nearby areas
Data sourced from South West Water (2024). Looking for a specific address? Look up your full postcode for the most accurate result.