Tap water in BH18, Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 10 substances, latest on 2 August 2021. These are river and groundwater samples near BH18, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
9.4 / 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 286 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
We earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we put first. How we make money
What's in a glass of BH18 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 12% of it. 4 of 4 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate12%
- Ammonia8%
- Nitrite5%
- Copper<1%
- pH 8.37 pH
- Temperature 18.2 °C
- Conductivity 607 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.28 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 12.7 mg/L
- Zinc 0.114 mg/L
All 10 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.37 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 18.2 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 607 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.039 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 8% |
| Nitrate | 6.2 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 12% |
| Nitrite | 0.024 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 5% |
| Phosphate | 0.28 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 12.7 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Copper | 0.00217 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.114 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
286mg 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 BH18
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Your river is the Stour (Lower), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Stour (Lower) 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, water plants and algae and dissolved oxygen. 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
11
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 1 site. The highest was PFBS at 0.0017 µg/L, at River Allen at High Hall (Fitches Brdge), 7.0 km away, in July 2024. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Bournemouth · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
BH18 in short
Tap water in BH18 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Central zone and scores 9.4 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 10 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 2 August 2021.
- The newest sample here is from August 2021That is over 5 years old, so treat this page as a record of past results rather than today's tap water.
- Very hard water at 286 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in BH18. How hardness is measured
- 6th cleanest of 18 areas tested in Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleOnly 5 areas in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole scored higher. The best is BH1 on 9.4.
Questions about BH18 water
Is BH18 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BH18 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) water scores 9.4/10, which is safe. 0 of 10 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in BH18 water?
We tested 10 contaminants in BH18 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 BH18?
BH18 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is BH18 water hard or soft?
Water in BH18 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) has a hardness of 286 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 BH18?
BH18 water scored 9.4/10 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 BH18 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for BH18 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 11 river and groundwater samples from 1 sites within 10 km of BH18, the highest being PFBS at 0.0017 µg/L about 7 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 BH18?
The Environment Agency rated the Stour (Lower) 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, water plants and algae and dissolved oxygen. 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 BH18, 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?
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- Installation explainedWhere it goes, the bypass tap, the drain, DIY or plumber
- Harvey vs KineticoThe two premium twin-cylinder brands, side by side
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- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
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