Tap water in CM3, ChelmsfordSafe to drink.Very hard.
Supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water. 3,494 samples, 21 substances, latest on 19 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.2 / 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 258 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 CM3 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 36% of it. 17 of 19 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate36%
- Nitrite28%
- Fluoride19%
- Arsenic14%
- Colour11%
- Nickel8%
- Aluminium6%
- Antimony6%
- Boron6%
- Bromate5%
- Turbidity4%
- Iron3%
- Mercury2%
- Selenium2%
- Chromium1%
- Lead<1%
- Manganese<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Copper<1%
- Conductivity 650 µS/cm
- pH 7.7 pH
All 21 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 18 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 36% |
| Conductivity | 650 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrite | 0.14 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 28% |
| pH | 7.7 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Iron | 0.0052 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Manganese | 0.00028 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Colour | 2.2 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 11% |
| Turbidity | 0.15 NTU | 4 NTU | 4% |
| Aluminium | 0.012 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Antimony | 0.00028 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 6% |
| Chromium | 0.00067 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Selenium | 0.00083 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Arsenic | 0.0014 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 14% |
| Nickel | 0.0015 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 8% |
| Cadmium | 0.000018 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Bromate | 0.0005 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.004 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Lead | 0.000065 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Fluoride | 0.28 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 19% |
| Mercury | 0.000022 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 2% |
| Boron | 0.055 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 6% |
258mg 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 CM3
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Your river is the Chelmer (d/s confluence with Can), rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Chelmer (d/s confluence with Can) as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by water plants and algae 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
CM3 in short
Tap water in CM3 (Chelmsford) is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water in the Chelmsford Central zone and scores 9.2 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 21 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 19 December 2025.
- Very hard water at 258 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in CM3. How hardness is measured
- 2nd cleanest of 3 areas tested in ChelmsfordSquarely mid-table for Chelmsford, between CM2 on 9.3 and CM1 on 9.1.
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Nitrate at 36% of the 50 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about CM3 water
Is CM3 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, CM3 (Chelmsford) water scores 9.2/10, which is safe. 0 of 21 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water.
What contaminants are in CM3 water?
We tested 21 contaminants in CM3 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in CM3?
CM3 (Chelmsford) is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is CM3 water hard or soft?
Water in CM3 (Chelmsford) has a hardness of 258 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 CM3?
CM3 water scored 9.2/10 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 CM3 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for CM3, 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 CM3?
The Environment Agency rated the Chelmer (d/s confluence with Can) as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by water plants and algae 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 CM3, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- 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?
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- 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
How to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near CM3
Environment Agency samples from rivers, groundwater and reservoirs nearby. Not your tap water. For scale they are shown against drinking water limits; rivers are judged against much stricter environmental standards, and on those every river in England fails for chemicals.
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for CM3.