England
Thames Water supplies Oxford from a mix of river abstraction and local groundwater sources.
According to TapWater.uk's analysis, Oxford scores 8.5/10 for drinking water quality in 2026. Water is supplied by Thames Water and has been tested for 23 contaminants across 14 postcode districts.
Average score
8.5/10
UK avg: 9.0/10
Areas tested
14
Issues flagged
14
PFAS detected
None
Yes, Oxford tap water is safe to drink. Based on 14 areas tested, Oxford has an average water quality score of 8.5/10 (below the UK average of 9.0/10). 14 contaminants were flagged above recommended levels across all areas. Water is supplied by Thames Water. Thames Water supplies Oxford from a mix of river abstraction and local groundwater sources.
Contaminants flagged most often across the city.
All postcode districts in Oxford, ranked by water quality score.
Learn more about the water quality issues relevant to this area.
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Yes, Oxford tap water is generally safe to drink. Across 14 areas tested, the average water quality score is 8.5/10. Thames Water supplies Oxford from a mix of river abstraction and local groundwater sources.
Yes, you can drink tap water in Oxford. It is regulated to UK drinking water standards, and across 14 tested areas the average water quality score is 8.5/10. Enter your postcode for the readings in your exact area.
The most commonly flagged contaminants across Oxford are Nitrite (flagged in 11 areas), Coliform Bacteria (flagged in 3 areas). No PFAS were detected.
Water in Oxford has an average hardness of 272 mg/L CaCO₃, which is classified as very hard. Hard water causes limescale buildup in kettles and appliances. A water softener or filter may help.
The areas with the best water quality in Oxford are OX14 (8.9/10), OX4 (8.9/10), RG9 (8.8/10).
Water in Oxford is supplied by Thames Water. Thames Water supplies Oxford from a mix of river abstraction and local groundwater sources.
No PFAS (forever chemicals) have been detected in any of the 14 areas tested in Oxford.
Free live water quality widget for OX14: 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 Oxford.