Tap water in BA11, SomersetToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 15 substances, latest on 2 September 2025. These are river and groundwater samples near BA11, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
9.2 / 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 283 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 BA11 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.
Nitrate came closest to a limit, at 14% of it. 8 of 8 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate14%
- Nickel8%
- Ammonia7%
- Nitrite5%
- Lead1%
- Chromium<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Copper<1%
- pH 8.03 pH
- Zinc 0.032 mg/L
- Temperature 12.6 °C
- Conductivity 693 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.081 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 9.87 mg/L
All 15 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0.00012 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| pH | 8.03 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Cadmium | 0.000015 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.0015 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 8% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 269 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Zinc | 0.032 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Copper | 0.00021 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Chromium | 0.00025 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Temperature | 12.6 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 693 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 7.24 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 14% |
| Nitrite | 0.0226 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 5% |
| Phosphate | 0.081 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.87 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.033 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 7% |
283mg 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 BA11
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Your river is the Frome (Maiden Bradley to Mells), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Frome (Maiden Bradley to Mells) 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. 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
17
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 3 sites. The highest was PFBS at 0.0063 µg/L, at Farleigh House Properties, 8.4 km away, in August 2024. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Bath · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
BA11 in short
Tap water in BA11 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Somerset Central zone and scores 9.2 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 15 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 2 September 2025.
- Very hard water at 283 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in BA11. How hardness is measured
- 11th cleanest of 40 areas tested in SomersetOnly 10 areas in Somerset scored higher. The best is BA3 on 9.5.
- PFAS found at 3 monitoring sites within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was PFBS about 8.4 km away. What was measured
Questions about BA11 water
Is BA11 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BA11 (Somerset) water scores 9.2/10, which is safe. 0 of 15 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in BA11 water?
We tested 15 contaminants in BA11 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 BA11?
BA11 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is BA11 water hard or soft?
Water in BA11 (Somerset) has a hardness of 283 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 BA11?
BA11 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 BA11 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for BA11 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 17 river and groundwater samples from 3 sites within 10 km of BA11, the highest being PFBS at 0.0063 µg/L about 8.4 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 BA11?
The Environment Agency rated the Frome (Maiden Bradley to Mells) 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. 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 BA11, 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 kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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