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tapwater
England and Wales average 9.0

Tap water in BS3, Bristol, City ofToo few tap tests to call it.

Supplied by Bristol Water. 8 substances, latest on 25 September 2017. These are river and groundwater samples near BS3, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.

See the filter we recommendSee everything that was tested

8.2 / 10

The tank is as full as the score.

What to do about it

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What's in a glass of BS3 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 28% of it. 2 of 3 substances used under a quarter of theirs.

0%25%50%75%limitLegal limitNitrate: 5.16 mg/L, 10% of the 50 mg/L limitNitrate10%Nitrite: 0.0729 mg/L, 15% of the 0.5 mg/L limitNitrite15%Ammonia: 0.14 mg/L, 28% of the 0.5 mg/L limitAmmonia28%
  1. Ammonia28%
  2. Nitrite15%
  3. Nitrate10%
  • pH 7.86 pH
  • Temperature 16.6 °C
  • Conductivity 890 µS/cm
  • Phosphate 0.349 mg/L
  • Dissolved Oxygen 7.35 mg/L
All 8 results as a table
SubstanceResultLegal limitShare of limit
pH7.86 pHNo legal limit–
Temperature16.6 °CNo legal limit–
Conductivity890 µS/cmNo legal limit–
Ammonia0.14 mg/L0.5 mg/L
28%
Nitrate5.16 mg/L50 mg/L
10%
Nitrite0.0729 mg/L0.5 mg/L
15%
Phosphate0.349 mg/LNo legal limit–
Dissolved Oxygen7.35 mg/LNo legal limit–
Outside your tap

Your river is the The Malago - source to conf R Avon (Brist New Cut), rated moderate

The Environment Agency rated the The Malago - source to conf R Avon (Brist New Cut) 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 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

Within 10 km

169

forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater

At 6 sites. The highest was PFOS at 0.023 µg/L, at Eastville Lake Inlet, 5.5 km away, in July 2023. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.

Every PFAS sample around Bristol · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained

BS3 in short

Tap water in BS3 (Bristol, City of) is supplied by Bristol Water in the Bristol, City of Central zone and scores 8.2 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 8 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 25 September 2017.

  • The newest sample here is from September 2017That is over 9 years old, so treat this page as a record of past results rather than today's tap water.
  • 10th cleanest of 13 areas tested in Bristol3 areas in Bristol scored lower. The best is BS10 on 9.1. Every area in Bristol
  • 0.8 points below the national average of 9Below the typical tested district in the UK, which is worth knowing before you choose a filter. Compare every area

Next door

BS48.2 out of 10BS18.2 out of 10BS78.9 out of 10BS68.2 out of 10BS58.9 out of 10BS28.2 out of 10BS88.2 out of 10BS138.8 out of 10BS98.8 out of 10BS148.9 out of 10

Questions about BS3 water

Is BS3 tap water safe to drink?

Based on the latest tests, BS3 (Bristol, City of) water scores 8.2/10, which is safe. 0 of 8 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Bristol Water.

What contaminants are in BS3 water?

We tested 8 contaminants in BS3 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 BS3?

BS3 (Bristol, City of) is supplied by Bristol Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.

Should I use a water filter in BS3?

BS3 water scored 8.2/10 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 BS3 water?

The tap-water tests we hold for BS3 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 169 river and groundwater samples from 6 sites within 10 km of BS3, the highest being PFOS at 0.023 µg/L about 5.5 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 BS3?

The Environment Agency rated the The Malago - source to conf R Avon (Brist New Cut) 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 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 BS3, which is treated before it reaches homes.

Keep reading

PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of BristolUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map

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