According to TapWater.uk's analysis, Bradford scores 9.6/10 for drinking water quality in 2026. Water is supplied by Yorkshire Water and has been tested for 25 contaminants across 21 postcode districts.
9.6 / 10
21 areas tested · 0 flagged · UK average 9.0
Yes, Bradford tap water is safe to drink. Based on 21 areas tested, Bradford has an average water quality score of 9.6/10 (above the UK average of 9.0/10). No contaminants were found above recommended levels. Water is supplied by Yorkshire Water. Yorkshire Water supplies Bradford from Pennine moorland reservoirs including Grimwith, Chelker, and Barden.
All postcode districts in Bradford, ranked by water quality score.
| Postcode | Area | Score | Flagged | Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BD1 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD10 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD12 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD13 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD14 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD18 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD4 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD5 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD6 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD7 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD8 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD9 | Bradford | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD15 | Bradford | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD17 | Bradford | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD2 | Bradford | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD20 | Bradford | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD3 | Bradford | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD16 | Bradford | 9.7 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD21 | Bradford | 9.7 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| BD22 | Bradford | 9.7 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| LS29 | Bradford | 9.7 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
72mg of limescale minerals in every litre, on average across Bradford
From 45 mg/L in LS29 to 93 mg/L in BD10. Hard starts at 180, very hard at 250.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| BD10 | Bradford | 93 | moderately soft |
| BD15 | Bradford | 90 | moderately soft |
| BD12 | Bradford | 89 | moderately soft |
| BD2 | Bradford | 89 | moderately soft |
| BD3 | Bradford | 88 | moderately soft |
| BD7 | Bradford | 85 | moderately soft |
| BD4 | Bradford | 84 | moderately soft |
| BD5 | Bradford | 82 | moderately soft |
| BD6 | Bradford | 79 | moderately soft |
| BD8 | Bradford | 77 | moderately soft |
| BD13 | Bradford | 76 | moderately soft |
| BD18 | Bradford | 75 | moderately soft |
| BD9 | Bradford | 73 | moderately soft |
| BD16 | Bradford | 69 | moderately soft |
| BD14 | Bradford | 63 | moderately soft |
| BD1 | Bradford | 57 | soft |
| BD20 | Bradford | 50 | soft |
| BD22 | Bradford | 47 | soft |
| BD17 | Bradford | 46 | soft |
| BD21 | Bradford | 46 | soft |
| LS29 | Bradford | 45 | soft |
Main water supplier: Yorkshire Water (21 postcodes)
None of the 10 rivers and waters that Bradford drains into is rated good by the Environment Agency. All of them fail the chemical test, as every river in England does, because of long-lasting pollutants such as mercury and PFOS. This describes the rivers, not your tap water.
| River or water | Ecological health | Postcode districts |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford Beck (Clayton Bk to R Aire) | Moderate | BD1, BD2, BD3, BD5, BD7, BD8, BD9, BD18 |
| Aire (R Worth to Gill Beck) | Moderate | BD15, BD16, BD17 |
| Clayton Beck (Source to Bradford Bk) | Moderate | BD13, BD14 |
| Spen Beck from Source to River Calder | Moderate | BD6, BD12 |
| Aire (Eshton Beck to R Worth) | Moderate | BD20 |
| Aire from Gill Beck (Baildon) to Wyke Beck | Moderate | BD10 |
| Low/Wortley/Pudsey Bks | Moderate | BD4 |
| North Beck from Source to River Worth | Moderate | BD21 |
| Wharfe from Barben Beck/River Dibb to Hundwith Beck | Moderate | LS29 |
| Worth from Bridgehouse Beck to R Aire | Moderate | BD22 |
Environment Agency classification, 2025. River health across England
Taste, chlorine and hardness bother people even where the water passes its tests. These are the three fixes our readers pick most: a jug for drinking water, a shower filter, and a reverse osmosis unit that needs no plumbing. Check your own postcode above to see which one your water needs.
The jug for cleaner drinking water
ZeroWater 12-Cup Ready-Pour
Jug Filter · NSF/ANSI 53, NSF/ANSI 401
Typical price
£40approx.
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For dry skin and hair after a shower
Jolie Filtered Showerhead
Shower Filter
Typical price
£85approx.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Reverse osmosis without a plumber
Osmio Zero 2.0 Countertop RO
Reverse Osmosis
Typical price
£495approx.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How recommendations are funded
Yes, Bradford tap water is generally safe to drink. Across 21 areas tested, the average water quality score is 9.6/10. Yorkshire Water supplies Bradford from Pennine moorland reservoirs including Grimwith, Chelker, and Barden.
Yes, you can drink tap water in Bradford. It is regulated to UK drinking water standards, and across 21 tested areas the average water quality score is 9.6/10. Enter your postcode for the readings in your exact area.
No contaminants were flagged above recommended levels across Bradford. All tested areas passed on the parameters measured.
Water in Bradford has an average hardness of 72 mg/L CaCO₃, which is classified as moderately soft. It ranges from 45 mg/L in LS29 to 93 mg/L in BD10. This is a moderate hardness level.
The areas with the best water quality in Bradford are BD16 (9.7/10), BD21 (9.7/10), BD22 (9.7/10).
Water in Bradford is supplied by Yorkshire Water. Yorkshire Water supplies Bradford from Pennine moorland reservoirs including Grimwith, Chelker, and Barden.
No PFAS (forever chemicals) have been detected in any of the 21 areas tested in Bradford.
Free live water quality widget for BD16: paste these two lines anywhere on your page. It stays up to date by itself and credits TapWater.uk automatically.
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<script src="https://www.tapwater.uk/widget.js" async></script>Get a detailed water quality report for your exact area in Bradford.
Based on water quality data from 21 postcode districts in Bradford. Data from your water company via the Stream Water Data Portal and the Environment Agency. See our methodology for how scores are calculated.