Tap water in CO8, BraintreeToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water. 12 substances, latest on 2 January 2025. These are river and groundwater samples near CO8, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
9.0 / 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 376 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 CO8 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.
Manganese came closest to a limit, at 28% of it. 5 of 6 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Manganese28%
- Nitrate17%
- Iron16%
- Ammonia8%
- Nitrite1%
- Copper<1%
- pH 7.97 pH
- Temperature 6.5 °C
- Conductivity 905 µS/cm
- Dissolved Oxygen 11.2 mg/L
- Phosphate 0.16 mg/L
- PFAS (total) 0.00046 µg/L
All 12 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.97 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 6.5 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 905 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 11.2 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 8.7 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 17% |
| Nitrite | 0.0065 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 1% |
| Phosphate | 0.16 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Copper | 0.0009 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Manganese | 0.014 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 28% |
| Iron | 0.032 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 16% |
| Ammonia | 0.038 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 8% |
| PFAS (total) | 0.00046 µg/L | No legal limit | – |
376mg 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 CO8
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Your river is the Stour (Lamarsh - R. Brett), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Stour (Lamarsh - R. Brett) 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. 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
CO8 in short
Tap water in CO8 (Braintree) is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water in the Braintree Central zone and scores 9.0 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 2 January 2025.
- Among the hardest water in the country at 376 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in CO8. How hardness is measured
- 2nd cleanest of 4 areas tested in BraintreeOnly 1 area in Braintree scored higher. The best is CM8 on 9.
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Manganese at 28% of the 0.05 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about CO8 water
Is CO8 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, CO8 (Braintree) water scores 9/10, which is safe. 0 of 12 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water.
What contaminants are in CO8 water?
We tested 12 contaminants in CO8 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels. PFAS (forever chemicals) were also detected at 0.00046 µg/L in nearby environmental monitoring.
Who supplies water in CO8?
CO8 (Braintree) is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is CO8 water hard or soft?
Water in CO8 (Braintree) has a hardness of 376 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 CO8?
CO8 water scored 9/10 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 CO8 water?
Yes, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been detected in CO8 at 0.00046 µg/L from environmental monitoring. The UK currently has no legal limit for PFAS in drinking water. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters can reduce PFAS levels.
How clean is the river near CO8?
The Environment Agency rated the Stour (Lamarsh - R. Brett) 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. 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 CO8, 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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