Tap water in BR8, SevenoaksToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by South East Water. 16 substances, latest on 1 September 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near BR8, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.7 / 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 355 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 BR8 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.
Ammonia came closest to a limit, at 20% of it. 9 of 9 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Ammonia20%
- Nitrate11%
- Fluoride7%
- Nickel6%
- Nitrite5%
- Chromium5%
- Manganese1%
- Lead<1%
- Copper<1%
- pH 7.71 pH
- Temperature 15.3 °C
- Conductivity 668 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.063 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 9.6 mg/L
- Zinc 0.0021 mg/L
All 16 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.71 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 15.3 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 668 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 5.6 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 11% |
| Nitrite | 0.025 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 5% |
| Phosphate | 0.063 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.6 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.1 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 20% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 338 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Fluoride | 0.1 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 7% |
| Lead | 0.00005 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.0021 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Chromium | 0.0023 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 5% |
| Nickel | 0.0011 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 6% |
| Manganese | 0.0005 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Copper | 0.00023 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
355mg 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 BR8
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Your river is the Middle and Lower Darent, rated good
The Environment Agency rated the Middle and Lower Darent as good for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is only slightly changed from its natural state. 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
BR8 in short
Tap water in BR8 (Sevenoaks) is supplied by South East Water in the Sevenoaks Central zone and scores 8.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 16 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 1 September 2026.
- Among the hardest water in the country at 355 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in BR8. How hardness is measured
- 6th cleanest of 7 areas tested in Sevenoaks1 area in Sevenoaks scored lower. The best is TN16 on 9.3.
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Ammonia at 20% of the 0.5 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about BR8 water
Is BR8 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BR8 (Sevenoaks) water scores 8.7/10, which is safe. 0 of 16 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by South East Water.
What contaminants are in BR8 water?
We tested 16 contaminants in BR8 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in BR8?
BR8 (Sevenoaks) is supplied by South East Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is BR8 water hard or soft?
Water in BR8 (Sevenoaks) has a hardness of 355 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 BR8?
BR8 water scored 8.7/10 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 BR8 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for BR8, 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 BR8?
The Environment Agency rated the Middle and Lower Darent as good for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is only slightly changed from its natural state. 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in BR8, 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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