Tap Water in FY6
Barnacre — United Utilities
Tap water in Barnacre, supplied by United Utilities, has the character of a blended surface and groundwater supply, with no dominant mineral signature. It’s moderately soft, in the lower end of the national range, with a total hardness of 150 mg/L as CaCO₃.
Mineral composition
| mg/L | |
|---|---|
| Calcium | 44 |
| Magnesium | 10 |
| Sodium | 32 |
| Sulfate | 84 |
| Chloride | 19 |
| Bicarbonate | 105 |
Additional info
| Hardness | 150 as CaCO₃ |
| Alkalinity | 85.7 as CaCO₃ |
| pH | 7.34 |
| Conductivity | 372 µS/cm |
| Source | United Utilities |
| Data year | 2025 |
What this means
Kettle & appliances
Some light mineral residue may appear in kettles over time, but significant limescale buildup is unlikely. No treatment needed for most appliances.
Espresso
A good range for espresso. Enough mineral content to provide body and balance acidity without posing a real scale risk to the machine. Most specialty coffee water targets fall in or near this band.
Filter & pour-over
Excellent for filter brewing. The slight mineral content adds body and sweetness without masking acidity, giving a balanced cup across most roast levels. This is close to the SCA’s recommended range for brewed coffee.
Drinking & cooking
Tastes clean with a slight mineral presence. Good all-round water for cooking; it won’t interfere with delicate flavours or leave noticeable deposits.
Bicarbonate
The buffering starts to become assertive: darker beer styles (porters, milds, brown ales) benefit from this level as it supports higher mash pH, but espresso will begin losing some of its brighter acidity, producing a rounder, heavier cup that flatters darker roasts while muting lighter ones.
Get the best from your water
FY6 tap water works well for espresso, baking, and aquarium use with little or no adjustment. Brewing is within reach with salt additions. It has too much mineral content for tea and horticulture; a bottled water blend is the better route for those.
Nearby areas
Data sourced from United Utilities (2025). Looking for a specific address? Look up your full postcode for the most accurate result.