According to TapWater.uk's analysis, Sheffield scores 9.5/10 for drinking water quality in 2026. Water is supplied by Yorkshire Water and has been tested for 25 contaminants across 17 postcode districts.
9.5 / 10
17 areas tested · 0 flagged · UK average 9.0
Yes, Sheffield tap water is safe to drink. Based on 17 areas tested, Sheffield has an average water quality score of 9.5/10 (above the UK average of 9.0/10). No contaminants were found above recommended levels. Water is supplied by Yorkshire Water. Yorkshire Water serves Sheffield from reservoirs in the Peak District and surrounding moorlands.
All postcode districts in Sheffield, ranked by water quality score.
| Postcode | Area | Score | Flagged | Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S5 | Sheffield | 9.3 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S6 | Sheffield | 9.3 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S9 | Sheffield | 9.3 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S1 | Sheffield | 9.4 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S10 | Sheffield | 9.4 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S3 | Sheffield | 9.4 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S14 | Sheffield | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S2 | Sheffield | 9.5 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S11 | Sheffield | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S12 | Sheffield | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S13 | Sheffield | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S17 | Sheffield | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S4 | Sheffield | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S8 | Sheffield | 9.6 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S35 | Sheffield | 9.7 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S7 | Sheffield | 9.7 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
| S20 | Sheffield | 10.0 | 0 | Yorkshire Water |
52mg of limescale minerals in every litre, on average across Sheffield
From 19 mg/L in S17 to 138 mg/L in S9. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S9 | Sheffield | 138 | moderately hard |
| S13 | Sheffield | 105 | moderately soft |
| S20* | Sheffield | 88 | moderately soft |
| S1 | Sheffield | 70 | moderately soft |
| S35 | Sheffield | 70 | moderately soft |
| S6 | Sheffield | 70 | moderately soft |
| S5 | Sheffield | 63 | moderately soft |
| S3 | Sheffield | 56 | soft |
| S7 | Sheffield | 41 | soft |
| S11 | Sheffield | 35 | soft |
| S8 | Sheffield | 32 | soft |
| S4 | Sheffield | 31 | soft |
| S10 | Sheffield | 30 | soft |
| S2 | Sheffield | 30 | soft |
| S14 | Sheffield | 23 | soft |
| S12 | Sheffield | 21 | soft |
| S17 | Sheffield | 19 | soft |
Main water supplier: Yorkshire Water (17 postcodes)
None of the 8 rivers and waters that Sheffield 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sheaf from Source to River Don | Poor | S1, S2, S7, S8, S14, S17 |
| Don from River Loxley confl to River Don Works | Poor | S3, S4 |
| Blackburn Brook from Source to River Don | Moderate | S5, S35 |
| Porter from Source to River Sheaf | Moderate | S10, S11 |
| Rother, Doe Lea to Don | Moderate | S13, S20 |
| Car Brook from Source to River Don | Moderate | S9 |
| Loxley from Strines Dyke to River Don | Moderate | S6 |
| Shire Brook | Moderate | S12 |
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, Sheffield tap water is generally safe to drink. Across 17 areas tested, the average water quality score is 9.5/10. Yorkshire Water serves Sheffield from reservoirs in the Peak District and surrounding moorlands.
Yes, you can drink tap water in Sheffield. It is regulated to UK drinking water standards, and across 17 tested areas the average water quality score is 9.5/10. Enter your postcode for the readings in your exact area.
No contaminants were flagged above recommended levels across Sheffield. All tested areas passed on the parameters measured.
Water in Sheffield has an average hardness of 52 mg/L CaCO₃, which is classified as soft. It ranges from 19 mg/L in S17 to 138 mg/L in S9. Soft water is gentle on appliances and skin.
The areas with the best water quality in Sheffield are S20 (10.0/10), S35 (9.7/10), S7 (9.7/10).
Water in Sheffield is supplied by Yorkshire Water. Yorkshire Water serves Sheffield from reservoirs in the Peak District and surrounding moorlands.
No PFAS (forever chemicals) have been detected in any of the 17 areas tested in Sheffield.
Free live water quality widget for S20: paste these two lines anywhere on your page. It stays up to date by itself and credits TapWater.uk automatically.
<div data-tapwater-postcode="S20"></div>
<script src="https://www.tapwater.uk/widget.js" async></script>Get a detailed water quality report for your exact area in Sheffield.
Based on water quality data from 17 postcode districts in Sheffield. Data from your water company via the Stream Water Data Portal and the Environment Agency. See our methodology for how scores are calculated.