Tap water in B69, SandwellSafe to drink.
Supplied by Severn Trent. 8,697 samples, 21 substances, latest on 30 December 2024. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
8.5 / 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 B69 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.
Trihalomethanes came closest to a limit, at 71% of it. 15 of 19 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Trihalomethanes71%
- Fluoride66%
- Nitrate45%
- Lead30%
- Nickel12%
- Colour10%
- Arsenic10%
- Bromate8%
- Boron4%
- Antimony4%
- Iron4%
- Manganese3%
- Aluminium3%
- Turbidity3%
- Cadmium2%
- Selenium2%
- Chromium1%
- Nitrite<1%
- Copper<1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- Conductivity 421 µS/cm
All 21 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Conductivity | 421 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Turbidity | 0.12 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Aluminium | 0.0061 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Iron | 0.0073 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Manganese | 0.0017 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 3% |
| Colour | 2 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 10% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0712 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 71% |
| Nitrite | 0.004 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | <1% |
| Nitrate | 22.4 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 45% |
| Copper | 0.009 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.0024 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 12% |
| Lead | 0.003 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 30% |
| Fluoride | 0.987 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 66% |
| Boron | 0.043 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 4% |
| Arsenic | 0.001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 10% |
| Antimony | 0.0002 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 4% |
| Selenium | 0.0008 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Bromate | 0.0008 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 8% |
| Cadmium | 0.00012 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Chromium | 0.0005 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
Your river is the Tame (Oldbury Arm) - source to conf R Tame (Wton Arm), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Tame (Oldbury Arm) - source to conf R Tame (Wton Arm) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by insects and other small river life, fish and ammonia. 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
21
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 4 sites. The highest was PFHxS (linear) at 0.0094 µg/L, at Sandwell Park Golf Club Borehole, West Bromwich, 4.0 km away, in September 2025. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Birmingham · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
B69 in short
Tap water in B69 (Sandwell) is supplied by Severn Trent in the Sandwell Central zone and scores 8.5 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 21 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 30 December 2024.
- The lowest score of the 10 areas tested in SandwellB69 scores 8.5 out of 10. The best in Sandwell, DY4, scores 9.7.
- Every one of the 9 neighbouring districts scores higherDY4 next door scores 9.7, against 8.5 here. Supply zones, not distance, explain the gap. See DY4
- Trihalomethanes is the reading closest to its limit, at 71% of the 0.1 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
Questions about B69 water
Is B69 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, B69 (Sandwell) water scores 8.5/10, which is safe. 0 of 21 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Severn Trent.
What contaminants are in B69 water?
We tested 21 contaminants in B69 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 B69?
B69 (Sandwell) 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 B69?
B69 water scored 8.5/10 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 B69 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for B69 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 21 river and groundwater samples from 4 sites within 10 km of B69, the highest being PFHxS (linear) at 0.0094 µg/L about 4 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 B69?
The Environment Agency rated the Tame (Oldbury Arm) - source to conf R Tame (Wton Arm) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by insects and other small river life, fish and ammonia. 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 B69, 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 kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near B69
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | 0.62 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Turbidity | 3.8 NTU | 4 NTU |
| Iron | 0.208 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| Chromium | 0.452 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| pH | 7.82 pH | None |
| Temperature | 9.7 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 765 µS/cm | None |
| Nitrate | 2.5 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.071 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.091 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 11.1 mg/L | None |
| Nickel | 0.00436 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.00168 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.0309 mg/L | None |
| Cadmium | 0.00011 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 406 mg/L | None |
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