Editorial review
Reviewed by the Maplify Editorial Team. Editorial policy
Ofwat / Environment Agency / OpenStreetMap
Drinking Water Supply & Protection Map
See mapped water-company areas, public waterworks features and protective water-source designations around a site.
See mapped water-company areas, public waterworks features and protective water-source designations around a site.
How to Interpret the Map — Layer Key
Mapped waterworks (OSM)
Community-mapped waterworks; use as indicative infrastructure rather than verified potable-treatment records.
Point markerWater company service area
Published broad service-area boundary, not a guarantee that any individual property is connected.
Shaded areaGroundwater source protection zone
EA zone safeguarding groundwater sources; different zones have different environmental implications.
Shaded areaDrinking water protected area
Protected surface or groundwater designation. Check the underlying source for the relevant category.
Shaded areaWhat This Layer Shows
The water-company-area overlay shows service geography at a broad scale. It must not be used to infer that a particular plot has a connected or adequately pressurised potable main.
Source Protection Zones and drinking-water protected areas highlight groundwater and surface-water areas where contamination may threaten drinking-water sources. Mapped drinking waterworks come from community tags and may include non-potable sites.
Why It Matters for Your Site or Property
Residential, industrial and agricultural development can affect drinking-water protection and increase demand for supply.
Water resource planning and construction impacts require evidence from the supplying undertaker and regulators, rather than guessed pipe routes.
Planning and Property Impact
Confirm the water supplier, apply for a connection assessment and check protected source catchments before planning pollution-sensitive land uses, storage or earthworks.
How to Interpret This Layer
- 1Open Water Industry > Drinking Water in the Map layers pane.
- 2Compare Water Company Areas, Source Protection Zones and Drinking Water Works (OSM).
- 3Use the company and regulator sources for site-specific supply and contamination decisions.
Official Data Source
Publisher
Ofwat / Environment Agency / OpenStreetMap
Coverage
Regulatory boundaries and protection designations focus on England and Wales; community-mapped waterworks vary.
Licence
Ofwat company GIS boundaries under Open Government Licence; OSM under ODbL; verify each EA source
Official source
https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/ofwat-industry-overview/
Data Freshness
Planned refresh frequency
Different updates for legal service boundaries, EA protection zones and OpenStreetMap features
Important Limitations
- A mapped waterworks tag is not a verified drinking-water treatment plant.
- Water company GIS service boundaries are geographic approximations rather than connection or network-capacity guarantees.
- No public overlay here shows drinking-water quality at an individual tap.
Common Use Cases
Property developers
Identify the likely supplier and protection constraints before requesting a formal connection quote.
Environmental consultants
Check sensitive drinking-water source protection designations.
Related Layers
This layer is commonly checked alongside these related layers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my exact underground water main here?
No. The Pipe Networks overlay has only sparse community data; obtain authoritative asset plans from the network owner.
Are source protection zones the same as water-company boundaries?
No. Source protection is an environmental designation; company boundaries show undertaker service geography.
Check Drinking Water Supply & Protection Map on Maplify
Open the map, generate a site report or save your search to come back to it later.
References and Methodology
Professional disclaimer
Maplify is a screening and due-diligence tool. This layer does not constitute professional advice, a planning decision, or a legal determination of any kind. Always verify critical matters with the relevant local planning authority, the data provider, or a qualified professional before relying on this information for a transaction, planning application, or development decision.