Tap water in BA1, Bath and North East SomersetToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 12 substances, latest on 12 August 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near BA1, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.9 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 301 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
It pays for itself in most homes at this hardness, through a boiler that stays efficient and appliances that last.
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
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What's in a glass of BA1 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.
Manganese came closest to a limit, at 8% of it. 5 of 5 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Manganese8%
- Nitrate5%
- Nickel1%
- Lead<1%
- Copper<1%
- pH 8.19 pH
- Temperature 18.4 °C
- Conductivity 658 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.017 mg/L
- Zinc 0.00016 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 9.29 mg/L
All 12 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.19 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 18.4 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 658 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 2.5 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 5% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 301 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Phosphate | 0.017 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Lead | 0.00004 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.00021 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 1% |
| Manganese | 0.0041 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 8% |
| Copper | 0.00023 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.00016 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.29 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
301mg of limescale minerals in every litre
This is the water that furs up kettles
Very hard on the UK scale. It is fine to drink. It is hard on boilers, showers, skin and anything that heats water, and a jug or tap filter will not change that.
Softener quotes for BA1
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Your river is the Bristol Avon (By Bk to Netham Weir), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Bristol Avon (By Bk to Netham Weir) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by phosphate and temperature. 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
123
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 6 sites. The highest was PFBS at 0.007 µg/L, at D/S Farmborough STW, 9.3 km away, in January 2026. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Bath · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
BA1 in short
Tap water in BA1 (Bath and North East Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Bath and North East Somerset Central zone and scores 8.9 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 12 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 12 August 2026.
- The cleanest tap water of the 4 areas tested in BathBA1 scores 8.9 out of 10, ahead of BA2 in second place on 8.9. Every area in Bath
- Among the hardest water in the country at 301 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in BA1. How hardness is measured
- PFAS found at 6 monitoring sites within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was PFBS about 9.3 km away. What was measured
Questions about BA1 water
Is BA1 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BA1 (Bath and North East Somerset) water scores 8.9/10, which is safe. 0 of 12 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in BA1 water?
We tested 12 contaminants in BA1 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 BA1?
BA1 (Bath and North East Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is BA1 water hard or soft?
Water in BA1 (Bath and North East Somerset) has a hardness of 301 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as very hard. Hard water can cause limescale buildup. A water softener or filter jug may help.
Should I use a water filter in BA1?
BA1 water scored 8.9/10 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 BA1 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for BA1 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 123 river and groundwater samples from 6 sites within 10 km of BA1, the highest being PFBS at 0.007 µg/L about 9.3 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 BA1?
The Environment Agency rated the Bristol Avon (By Bk to Netham Weir) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by phosphate and temperature. 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 BA1, 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
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- Do I Need a Water Softener?The hardness bands, the symptoms, and a postcode check
- UK Water Hardness MapIs your water hard or soft, and does it matter?
- Do I need a water softener?The hardness bands, the symptoms, and when the answer is no
- Best water softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared
- Water softener costUnit, fitting and salt, and how long the payback takes
- Installation explainedWhere it goes, the bypass tap, the drain, DIY or plumber
- Harvey vs KineticoThe two premium twin-cylinder brands, side by side
- Softener salt guideTablet, block or granular, and how much you get through
- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of BathUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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