Tap water in CO9, BraintreeTurbidity is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water. 9 substances, latest on 11 March 2026. Turbidity came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
7.7 / 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 CO9.
Stop the limescale
At 394 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 CO9.
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What's in a glass of CO9 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%
- Nitrate18%
- Ammonia9%
- Nitrite3%
- pH 7.92 pH
- Temperature 9.2 °C
- Conductivity 633 µS/cm
- Dissolved Oxygen 10.9 mg/L
- Phosphate 0.097 mg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 99.7 NTU | 4 NTU | 2493% |
| pH | 7.92 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 9.2 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 633 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 8.8 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 18% |
| Nitrite | 0.016 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 3% |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 10.9 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.047 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 9% |
| Phosphate | 0.097 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
394mg 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.
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Your river is the Colne (Gt. Yeldham - Doe's Corner), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Colne (Gt. Yeldham - Doe's Corner) 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 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
CO9 in short
Tap water in CO9 (Braintree) is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water in the Braintree Central zone and scores 7.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 9 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 11 March 2026.
- Turbidity was measured at 99.7 NTU, 25 times the UK limitIt is the only one of 9 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- Among the hardest water in the country at 394 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in CO9. How hardness is measured
- 3rd cleanest of 4 areas tested in Braintree1 area in Braintree scored lower. The best is CM8 on 9.
Questions about CO9 water
Is CO9 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, CO9 (Braintree) water scores 7.7/10, which is safe. 1 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water.
What contaminants are in CO9 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in CO9 water. 1 were flagged, including Turbidity.
Who supplies water in CO9?
CO9 (Braintree) is supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is CO9 water hard or soft?
Water in CO9 (Braintree) has a hardness of 394 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 CO9?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in CO9, 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 CO9 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for CO9, 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 CO9?
The Environment Agency rated the Colne (Gt. Yeldham - Doe's Corner) 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 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in CO9, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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