Tap water in BA2, Bath and North East SomersetToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 13 substances, latest on 8 March 2024. These are river and groundwater samples near BA2, 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 321 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 BA2 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 26% of it. 5 of 6 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Manganese26%
- Iron22%
- Ammonia14%
- Nitrate12%
- Nitrite6%
- Copper<1%
- pH 8.13 pH
- Temperature 8.5 °C
- Conductivity 647 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.08 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 11.4 mg/L
- Zinc 0.0026 mg/L
- PFAS (total) 0.0031 µg/L
All 13 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.13 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 8.5 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 647 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.068 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 14% |
| Nitrate | 5.9 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 12% |
| Nitrite | 0.029 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 6% |
| Phosphate | 0.08 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 11.4 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Zinc | 0.0026 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Copper | 0.0023 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Manganese | 0.013 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 26% |
| Iron | 0.044 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 22% |
| PFAS (total) | 0.0031 µg/L | No legal limit | – |
321mg 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 BA2
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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
74
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 7 sites. The highest was PFBS at 0.007 µg/L, at D/S Farmborough STW, 6.7 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
BA2 in short
Tap water in BA2 (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 13 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 8 March 2024.
- The newest sample here is from March 2024That is over 2 years old, so treat this page as a record of past results rather than today's tap water.
- Among the hardest water in the country at 321 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in BA2. How hardness is measured
- 2nd cleanest of 4 areas tested in BathOnly 1 area in Bath scored higher. The best is BA1 on 8.9. Every area in Bath
Questions about BA2 water
Is BA2 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BA2 (Bath and North East Somerset) water scores 8.9/10, which is safe. 0 of 13 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in BA2 water?
We tested 13 contaminants in BA2 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels. PFAS (forever chemicals) were also detected at 0.0031 µg/L in nearby environmental monitoring.
Who supplies water in BA2?
BA2 (Bath and North East Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is BA2 water hard or soft?
Water in BA2 (Bath and North East Somerset) has a hardness of 321 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 BA2?
BA2 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 BA2 water?
Yes, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been detected in BA2 at 0.0031 µg/L from environmental monitoring. The UK currently has no legal limit for PFAS in drinking water. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters can reduce PFAS levels.
How clean is the river near BA2?
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 BA2, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
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