Tap water in BH15, Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 13 substances, latest on 18 March 2008. These are river and groundwater samples near BH15, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.2 / 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 295 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.
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis
£550typical price
Removes nickel, the result that stood out in BH15.
BRITA Marella XL + MAXTRA PRO
£25typical price
Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget
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What's in a glass of BH15 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.
Nickel came closest to a limit, at 96% of it. 7 of 8 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nickel96%
- Lead16%
- Ammonia9%
- Nitrate8%
- Nitrite8%
- Chromium3%
- Cadmium1%
- Copper<1%
- Zinc 0.0358 mg/L
- Temperature 9.5 °C
- Phosphate 0.192 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 8.46 mg/L
All 13 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel | 0.0192 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 96% |
| Lead | 0.00159 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 16% |
| Cadmium | 0.000058 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 1% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 229 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Chromium | 0.00171 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 3% |
| Copper | 0.00662 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.0358 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 9.5 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.043 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 9% |
| Nitrate | 4.23 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 8% |
| Nitrite | 0.0393 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 8% |
| Phosphate | 0.192 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 8.46 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
295mg 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 BH15
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Your estuary is the Poole Harbour, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Poole Harbour as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the estuary is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by seagrass and saltmarsh, nitrogen and seaweed. 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
47
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 1 site. The highest was PFOA at 0.0029 µg/L, at Littlesea Lake, 7.2 km away, in October 2024. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Bournemouth · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
BH15 in short
Tap water in BH15 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Central zone and scores 8.2 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 13 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 18 March 2008.
- The newest sample here is from March 2008That is over 18 years old, so treat this page as a record of past results rather than today's tap water.
- Nickel is within its legal limit but flagged, at 96% of the 0.02 mg/L maximumAnything over three quarters of a limit is flagged here as worth watching. It has not gone over. See every reading
- The lowest score of the 18 areas tested in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleBH15 scores 8.2 out of 10. The best in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH1, scores 9.4.
Questions about BH15 water
Is BH15 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BH15 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) water scores 8.2/10, which is safe. 1 of 13 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in BH15 water?
We tested 13 contaminants in BH15 water. 1 were flagged, including Nickel. 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 BH15?
BH15 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is BH15 water hard or soft?
Water in BH15 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) has a hardness of 295 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 BH15?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in BH15, a water filter could help. A reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter is recommended for PFAS removal. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in BH15 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for BH15 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 47 river and groundwater samples from 1 sites within 10 km of BH15, the highest being PFOA at 0.0029 µg/L about 7.2 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 estuary near BH15?
The Environment Agency rated the Poole Harbour as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the estuary is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by seagrass and saltmarsh, nitrogen and seaweed. 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 estuary, not of tap water in BH15, 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
- 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
- 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 explainedBoiling water taps and hard waterHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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