Tap water in CM7, Braintree2 results are over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water. 12 substances, latest on 7 September 2026. Turbidity and Iron came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
5.9 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes turbidity, the result that stood out in CM7.
Stop the limescale
At 416 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
BWT E1 Single Lever
£250typical price
Removes turbidity, the result that stood out in CM7.
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What's in a glass of CM7 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.
Turbidity is over its legal limit, at 2493% of it.
- Turbidity2493%
- Iron725%
- Manganese100%
- Nitrite30%
- Ammonia20%
- Nitrate18%
- Fluoride7%
- pH 8.07 pH
- Temperature 16.9 °C
- Conductivity 1299 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.3 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 7.04 mg/L
All 12 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 99.7 NTU | 4 NTU | 2493% |
| Manganese | 0.05 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 100% |
| Iron | 1.45 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 725% |
| pH | 8.07 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 16.9 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 1299 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.1 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 20% |
| Nitrate | 9.1 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 18% |
| Nitrite | 0.15 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 30% |
| Phosphate | 0.3 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 7.04 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Fluoride | 0.107 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 7% |
416mg 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 CM7
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Your river is the Blackwater (Combined Essex), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Blackwater (Combined Essex) 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 water plants and algae. 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
CM7 in short
Tap water in CM7 (Braintree) is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water in the Braintree Central zone and scores 5.9 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 3 of 12 tested substances were close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 7 September 2026.
- Turbidity was measured at 99.7 NTU, 25 times the UK limitIt is the furthest over its limit of the 3 substances flagged here. See the full results
- The lowest score of the 4 areas tested in BraintreeCM7 scores 5.9 out of 10. The best in Braintree, CM8, scores 9.
- Among the hardest water in the country at 416 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in CM7. How hardness is measured
Questions about CM7 water
Is CM7 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, CM7 (Braintree) water scores 5.9/10, which is mostly safe but has some issues. 3 of 12 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water.
What contaminants are in CM7 water?
We tested 12 contaminants in CM7 water. 3 were flagged, including Turbidity, Manganese, Iron.
Who supplies water in CM7?
CM7 (Braintree) is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is CM7 water hard or soft?
Water in CM7 (Braintree) has a hardness of 416 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 CM7?
With 3 contaminants above recommended levels in CM7, a water filter could help. A filter jug or under-sink filter can reduce most common contaminants. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in CM7 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for CM7, 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 CM7?
The Environment Agency rated the Blackwater (Combined Essex) 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 water plants and algae. 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 CM7, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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