Keeping fish

One of our key goals is to constantly supply you with clean and safe drinking water. In order to meet water quality standards, we test 24/7 – via samples and monitoring - the water coming in and out of our treatment works and across our distribution system.

And because we appreciate our water is used for many purposes – including keeping fish – we’re keen to give enthusiasts a helping hand.

 

We know you might want detailed information about the chlorine, ammonia or nitrate levels in your tap water and as home test kits can be inaccurate, we have a postcode search to help.

If you’re using the tap water for fish keeping it might need further treatment to make it safe for the fish to live in. Your local aquarium can advise on any specialised treatments and equipment you may require at home and we also recommend you: 

  • always use water from a mains-fed cold tap
  • allow water to run for a few minutes to remove any water that has been standing in pipework. Fish can be sensitive to trace amounts of metals. Collect and use to water inside and outside plants
  • remove chlorine from the tap water before adding to the pond or tank. Chlorine is in drinking water to make it safe, but it’s highly toxic to fish:
    • leave the tap water standing in a clean container for at least 24 hours before use
    • other methods can be used to de-chlorinate water; your local aquarium can help with this
    • allow tap water to reach room temperature before using in your pond or tank. Tap water is generally colder than fish tank and aquarium water and it can be colder than pond water in the summer months. Fish are sensitive to temperature changes and variations can cause them to go into shock.

If you’re a business customer, contact your provider for more information.