Tap water in BA5, SomersetToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 9 substances, latest on 3 January 2024. These are river and groundwater samples near BA5, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
7.9 / 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 288 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 BA5 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.
Iron came closest to a limit, at 60% of it. 3 of 4 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Iron60%
- Nitrate22%
- Ammonia18%
- Nitrite4%
- pH 7.94 pH
- Temperature 14.7 °C
- Conductivity 876 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.14 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 9.81 mg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.94 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Iron | 0.12 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 60% |
| Temperature | 14.7 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 876 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 11 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 22% |
| Nitrite | 0.018 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 4% |
| Phosphate | 0.14 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.81 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.092 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 18% |
288mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the BA area. BA5 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 BA5
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Your river is the Keward Brook, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Keward Brook as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. 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
BA5 in short
Tap water in BA5 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Somerset Central zone and scores 7.9 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 9 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 3 January 2024.
- The newest sample here is from January 2024That is over 2 years old, so treat this page as a record of past results rather than today's tap water.
- Iron is the reading closest to its limit, at 60% of the 0.2 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- 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
Questions about BA5 water
Is BA5 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BA5 (Somerset) water scores 7.9/10, which is safe. 0 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in BA5 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in BA5 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in BA5?
BA5 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is BA5 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for BA5 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 BA5?
BA5 water scored 7.9/10 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 BA5 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for BA5, 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 BA5?
The Environment Agency rated the Keward Brook as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. 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 BA5, 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?
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- 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
How to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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