Tap water in BS9, Bristol, City ofToo few tap tests to call it.
Supplied by Bristol Water. 12 substances, latest on 14 September 2017. These are river and groundwater samples near BS9, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.8 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
What to do about it
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Households concerned about PFAS and heavy metals
Waterdrop 10UA Under Sink
£70typical price
High-volume under-sink filtration without RO complexity
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 BS9 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 46% of it. 5 of 6 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nickel46%
- Ammonia15%
- Nitrite7%
- Nitrate4%
- Chromium1%
- Copper<1%
- pH 7.77 pH
- Temperature 14.2 °C
- Conductivity 375 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.196 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 9.05 mg/L
- Zinc 0.594 mg/L
All 12 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.77 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 14.2 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 375 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.076 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 15% |
| Nitrate | 1.82 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 4% |
| Nitrite | 0.037 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 7% |
| Phosphate | 0.196 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.05 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Zinc | 0.594 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Chromium | 0.0006 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Nickel | 0.0091 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 46% |
| Copper | 0.0121 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
Your river is the Trym - source to conf R Avon (Brist), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Trym - source to conf R Avon (Brist) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by fish, insects and other small river life and phosphate. 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
110
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 4 sites. The highest was PFOS at 0.023 µg/L, at Eastville Lake Inlet, 5.2 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
BS9 in short
Tap water in BS9 (Bristol, City of) is supplied by Bristol Water in the Bristol, City of Central zone and scores 8.8 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 12 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 14 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.
- Nickel is the reading closest to its limit, at 46% of the 0.02 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- 6th cleanest of 13 areas tested in BristolSquarely mid-table for Bristol, between BS10 on 9.1 and BS8 on 8.2. Every area in Bristol
Questions about BS9 water
Is BS9 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, BS9 (Bristol, City of) water scores 8.8/10, which is safe. 0 of 12 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Bristol Water.
What contaminants are in BS9 water?
We tested 12 contaminants in BS9 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 BS9?
BS9 (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 BS9?
BS9 water scored 8.8/10 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 BS9 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for BS9 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 110 river and groundwater samples from 4 sites within 10 km of BS9, the highest being PFOS at 0.023 µg/L about 5.2 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 river near BS9?
The Environment Agency rated the Trym - source to conf R Avon (Brist) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by fish, insects and other small river life and phosphate. 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 BS9, 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
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of BristolUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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