Tap water in B34, BirminghamSafe to drink.
Supplied by Severn Trent. 560 samples, 20 substances, latest on 23 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.2 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
What to do about it
ZeroWater 12-Cup Ready-Pour
£40typical price
Households concerned about PFAS and heavy metals
Waterdrop 10UA Under Sink
£70typical price
High-volume under-sink filtration without RO complexity
BRITA Marella XL + MAXTRA PRO
£25typical price
Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget
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What's in a glass of B34 water
Every bubble is a substance the lab measured. The higher it floats, the closer it came to its legal limit, the dashed line at the top.
Fluoride came closest to a limit, at 43% of it. 15 of 17 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Fluoride43%
- Trihalomethanes41%
- Nitrate12%
- Aluminium11%
- Nickel5%
- Colour4%
- Iron3%
- Turbidity3%
- Manganese1%
- Arsenic1%
- Lead1%
- Antimony1%
- Copper<1%
- Chromium<1%
- Nitrite<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Selenium<1%
- pH 7.95 pH
- Conductivity 133 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.545 mg/L
All 20 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 0.0194 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Fluoride | 0.65 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 43% |
| Arsenic | 0.00014 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Cadmium | 0.00002 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Chromium | 0.00042 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.001 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 5% |
| Lead | 0.00014 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Antimony | 0.000059 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 1% |
| Selenium | 0.00007 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | <1% |
| Colour | 0.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 4% |
| Aluminium | 0.021 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 11% |
| Iron | 0.007 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Manganese | 0.00073 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| pH | 7.95 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Turbidity | 0.12 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Nitrate | 5.8 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 12% |
| Nitrite | 0.003 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | <1% |
| Conductivity | 133 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0414 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 41% |
| Phosphate | 0.545 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
Your river is the Cole from Springfield to Hatchford-Kingshurst Brook, rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Cole from Springfield to Hatchford-Kingshurst Brook as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by insects and other small river life, phosphate and dissolved oxygen. It fails the chemical test, as every river, estuary and stretch of coast in England does, because of long-lasting pollutants such as mercury, PFOS (a forever chemical) and old flame retardants.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
182
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 10 sites. The highest was 6:2 FTSA at 0.025 µg/L, at River Tame - Downstream Minworth STW Bacteria Beds, 6.2 km away, in November 2024. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Birmingham · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
B34 in short
Tap water in B34 (Birmingham) is supplied by Severn Trent in the Birmingham Central zone and scores 9.2 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 20 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 23 December 2025.
- 34th cleanest of 42 areas tested in Birmingham8 areas in Birmingham scored lower. The best is B2 on 9.6. Every area in Birmingham
- Fluoride is the reading closest to its limit, at 43% of the 1.5 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- PFAS found at 10 monitoring sites within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was 6:2 FTSA about 6.2 km away. What was measured
Questions about B34 water
Is B34 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, B34 (Birmingham) water scores 9.2/10, which is safe. 0 of 20 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Severn Trent.
What contaminants are in B34 water?
We tested 20 contaminants in B34 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels. PFAS (forever chemicals) were also measured in rivers and groundwater within 10 km, though not in the tap-water tests themselves.
Who supplies water in B34?
B34 (Birmingham) is supplied by Severn Trent. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Should I use a water filter in B34?
B34 water scored 9.2/10 with no contaminants above recommended levels. A filter is optional but can improve taste, especially if you notice a chlorine flavour. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in B34 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for B34 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 182 river and groundwater samples from 10 sites within 10 km of B34, the highest being 6:2 FTSA at 0.025 µg/L about 6.2 km away. These are environmental samples, not tests of tap water. The UK currently has no legal limit for PFAS in drinking water; the Drinking Water Inspectorate uses a 0.1 µg/L guideline for individual compounds. Reverse osmosis filters can reduce PFAS levels.
How clean is the river near B34?
The Environment Agency rated the Cole from Springfield to Hatchford-Kingshurst Brook as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by insects and other small river life, phosphate and dissolved oxygen. It fails the chemical test, as every river, estuary and stretch of coast in England does, because of long-lasting pollutants such as mercury, PFOS (a forever chemical) and old flame retardants. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in B34, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- Best Filter for PFAS RemovalThe filters with independent certification to remove forever chemicals
- PFAS Forever ChemicalsWhat PFAS are and how to reduce your exposure at home
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of BirminghamUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near B34
Environment Agency samples from rivers, groundwater and reservoirs nearby. Not your tap water. For scale they are shown against drinking water limits; rivers are judged against much stricter environmental standards, and on those every river in England fails for chemicals.
| Substance | Reading | Drinking water limit |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel | 0.0274 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| pH | 7.92 pH | None |
| Temperature | 9.4 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 1028 µS/cm | None |
| Ammonia | 0.24 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 7.2 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.11 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.069 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.37 mg/L | None |
| Copper | 0.0051 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.0583 mg/L | None |
| Cadmium | 0.00013 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 334 mg/L | None |
| Chromium | 0.0053 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Arsenic | 0.0024 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
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