According to TapWater.uk's analysis, Manchester scores 9.4/10 for drinking water quality in 2026. Water is supplied by United Utilities and has been tested for 16 contaminants across 27 postcode districts.
9.4 / 10
27 areas tested · 0 flagged · UK average 9.0
Yes, Manchester tap water is safe to drink. Based on 27 areas tested, Manchester has an average water quality score of 9.4/10 (above the UK average of 9.0/10). No contaminants were found above recommended levels. Water is supplied by United Utilities. Supplied by United Utilities, Manchester's water comes primarily from reservoirs in the Lake District and Peak District.
All postcode districts in Manchester, ranked by water quality score.
| Postcode | Area | Score | Flagged | Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M11 | Manchester | 9.3 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M18 | Manchester | 9.3 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M40 | Manchester | 9.3 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M6 | Salford | 9.3 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M1 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M12 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M13 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M14 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M15 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M19 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M2 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M20 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M21 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M23 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M3 | Salford | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M50 | Salford | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M7 | Salford | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M8 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M9 | Manchester | 9.4 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M22 | Manchester | 9.5 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M28 | Salford | 9.5 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M30 | Salford | 9.5 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M38 | Salford | 9.5 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M4 | Manchester | 9.5 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M44 | Salford | 9.5 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M5 | Salford | 9.5 | 0 | United Utilities |
| M27 | Salford | 9.6 | 0 | United Utilities |
28mg of limescale minerals in every litre, on average across Manchester
From 21 mg/L in M44 to 34 mg/L in M9. Hard starts at 180, very hard at 250. Districts marked with an asterisk take their postcode area's median rather than a reading of their own.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| M9 | Manchester | 34 | soft |
| M11 | Manchester | 32 | soft |
| M1 | Manchester | 31 | soft |
| M12 | Manchester | 31 | soft |
| M13 | Manchester | 31 | soft |
| M14 | Manchester | 31 | soft |
| M18 | Manchester | 31 | soft |
| M21 | Manchester | 31 | soft |
| M40 | Manchester | 31 | soft |
| M15 | Manchester | 30 | soft |
| M19 | Manchester | 30 | soft |
| M20 | Manchester | 30 | soft |
| M3 | Salford | 29 | soft |
| M4 | Manchester | 29 | soft |
| M5* | Salford | 29 | soft |
| M50 | Salford | 29 | soft |
| M2 | Manchester | 28 | soft |
| M6 | Salford | 28 | soft |
| M7 | Salford | 28 | soft |
| M8 | Manchester | 28 | soft |
| M22 | Manchester | 27 | soft |
| M23 | Manchester | 27 | soft |
| M30 | Salford | 24 | soft |
| M27 | Salford | 22 | soft |
| M28 | Salford | 21 | soft |
| M38 | Salford | 21 | soft |
| M44 | Salford | 21 | soft |
Main water supplier: United Utilities (27 postcodes)
None of the 11 rivers and waters that Manchester 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Irwell / Manchester Ship Canal (Irk to confluence with Upper Mersey) | Moderate | M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M11, M12, M13 and 4 more |
| Irk (Wince to Irwell) | Moderate | M8, M9, M40 |
| Chorlton Brook (Princess Parkway to Mersey) | Moderate | M20, M21 |
| Platt Brook (Source to Fallowfield Bk) | Moderate | M14, M18 |
| Sinderland Brook (Fairywell Bk and Baguley Bk) | Moderate | M22, M23 |
| Astley Brook (Mersey) | Moderate | M38 |
| Fallowfield Brook | Moderate | M19 |
| Folly Brook and Salteye Brook. | Moderate | M27 |
| Irwell (Croal to Irk) | Moderate | M7 |
| Medlock (Lumb Brook to Irwell) | Moderate | M1 |
| Shaw Brook | Moderate | M28 |
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.
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Reverse osmosis without a plumber
Osmio Zero 2.0 Countertop RO
Reverse Osmosis
Typical price
£495approx.
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Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How recommendations are funded
Yes, Manchester tap water is generally safe to drink. Across 27 areas tested, the average water quality score is 9.4/10. Supplied by United Utilities, Manchester's water comes primarily from reservoirs in the Lake District and Peak District.
Yes, you can drink tap water in Manchester. It is regulated to UK drinking water standards, and across 27 tested areas the average water quality score is 9.4/10. Enter your postcode for the readings in your exact area.
No contaminants were flagged above recommended levels across Manchester. All tested areas passed on the parameters measured.
Water in Manchester has an average hardness of 28 mg/L CaCO₃, which is classified as soft. It ranges from 21 mg/L in M44 to 34 mg/L in M9. Soft water is gentle on appliances and skin.
The areas with the best water quality in Manchester are M27 (9.6/10), M22 (9.5/10), M28 (9.5/10).
Water in Manchester is supplied by United Utilities. Supplied by United Utilities, Manchester's water comes primarily from reservoirs in the Lake District and Peak District.
No PFAS (forever chemicals) have been detected in any of the 27 areas tested in Manchester.
Free live water quality widget for M27: 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 Manchester.
Based on water quality data from 27 postcode districts in Manchester. Data from your water company via the Stream Water Data Portal and the Environment Agency. See our methodology for how scores are calculated.