Tap Water in SR4
Sunderland City Zone — Northumbrian Water
Tap water in Sunderland City Zone, supplied by Northumbrian Water, has the character of a blended surface and groundwater supply, with no dominant mineral signature. It’s slightly hard, around the national midpoint, with a total hardness of 155 mg/L as CaCO₃.
Mineral composition
| mg/L | |
|---|---|
| Calcium | 40 |
| Magnesium | 14 |
| Sodium | 24 |
| Sulfate | 67 |
| Chloride | 32 |
| Bicarbonate | 107 |
Additional info
| Hardness | 155.01 as CaCO₃ |
| Alkalinity | 88 as CaCO₃ |
| pH | awaiting data |
| Conductivity | awaiting data |
| Source | Northumbrian Water |
| Data year | 2024 |
What this means
Kettle & appliances
Light limescale will accumulate in kettles and on heating elements over weeks. A periodic descale (monthly or so) will keep things in check, but it’s not urgent.
Espresso
Hardness at this level starts to affect espresso machines more noticeably. Scale will form in boilers over months, and the water’s buffering will round off some of the brighter acidity in the cup. Regular descaling becomes worthwhile.
Filter & pour-over
Filter coffee starts to lose some of its top-end brightness here. Lighter roasts will taste rounder and less distinctive than they would with softer water, though medium and darker roasts hold up well. The cup won’t be flat, but the crispest acidity is softened.
Drinking & cooking
A faint mineral taste may be noticeable if you’re paying attention. Vegetables and pulses cook normally; rice and pasta are unaffected.
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
SR4 tap water works well for espresso and baking with little or no adjustment. Brewing is within reach with salt additions. It has too much mineral content for aquarium use, tea, and horticulture; a bottled water blend is the better route for those.
Nearby areas
Data sourced from Northumbrian Water (2024). Looking for a specific address? Look up your full postcode for the most accurate result.