Tap water in BA4, SomersetTurbidity is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 9 substances, latest on 13 May 2026. Turbidity came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
7.7 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes turbidity, the result that stood out in BA4.
Stop the limescale
At 288 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
BWT E1 Single Lever
£250typical price
Removes turbidity, the result that stood out in BA4.
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What's in a glass of BA4 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.
Turbidity is over its legal limit, at 14250% of it.
- Turbidity14250%
- Ammonia15%
- Nitrate10%
- Nitrite3%
- pH 7.74 pH
- Temperature 11 °C
- Conductivity 558 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.019 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 10.7 mg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 570 NTU | 4 NTU | 14250% |
| pH | 7.74 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 11 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 558 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.076 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 15% |
| Nitrate | 5.1 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 10% |
| Nitrite | 0.017 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 3% |
| Phosphate | 0.019 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 10.7 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
288mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the BA area. BA4 has no reading of its own.
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 BA4
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Your river is the Alham, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Alham 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
BA4 in short
Tap water in BA4 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Somerset Central zone and scores 7.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 9 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 13 May 2026.
- Turbidity was measured at 570 NTU, 143 times the UK limitIt is the only one of 9 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- Very hard water at 288 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles across the BA postcode area. How hardness is measured
- 29th cleanest of 40 areas tested in Somerset11 areas in Somerset scored lower. The best is BA3 on 9.5.
Questions about BA4 water
Is BA4 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BA4 (Somerset) water scores 7.7/10, which is safe. 1 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in BA4 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in BA4 water. 1 were flagged, including Turbidity.
Who supplies water in BA4?
BA4 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is BA4 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for BA4 itself. Across the BA postcode area the typical value is 288 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 BA4?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in BA4, a water filter could help. A filter jug or under-sink filter can reduce most common contaminants. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in BA4 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for BA4, and the Environment Agency has no PFAS detections in rivers or groundwater within 10 km of it. That reflects where sampling has happened as much as the water itself.
How clean is the river near BA4?
The Environment Agency rated the Alham 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 BA4, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- Best Water Softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared, with real costs
- 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?
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
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- Best water softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared
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- Softener salt guideTablet, block or granular, and how much you get through
- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
How to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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