Tap water in DA5, Bexley2 results are over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Thames Water. 76 samples, 23 substances, latest on 31 December 2025. Nitrite and Lead came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
7.9 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis
£550typical price
Removes lead, the result that stood out in DA5.
Stop the limescale
At 282 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes lead, the result that stood out in DA5.
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What's in a glass of DA5 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.
Lead is over its legal limit, at 636% of it.
- Lead636%
- Nitrite108%
- Nitrate52%
- Trihalomethanes15%
- Bromate11%
- Nickel11%
- Fluoride9%
- Colour9%
- Arsenic8%
- Cadmium8%
- Mercury7%
- Boron6%
- Antimony6%
- Chromium5%
- Selenium5%
- Aluminium4%
- Iron3%
- Copper3%
- Manganese1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 641 µS/cm
All 23 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrite | 0.54 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 108% |
| Lead | 0.0636 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 636% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Colour | 1.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 9% |
| Conductivity | 641 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Fluoride | 0.14 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 9% |
| Nitrate | 26.2 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 52% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 282 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.0082 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Antimony | 0.0003 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 6% |
| Arsenic | 0.0008 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 8% |
| Boron | 0.06 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 6% |
| Cadmium | 0.0004 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 8% |
| Chromium | 0.0025 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.06 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 3% |
| Iron | 0.007 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Manganese | 0.0006 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Mercury | 0.00007 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 7% |
| Nickel | 0.0021 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 11% |
| Selenium | 0.0018 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 5% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.015 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 15% |
| Bromate | 0.0011 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 11% |
282mg 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 DA5
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Your river is the Upper Cray, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Upper Cray as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by 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
DA5 in short
Tap water in DA5 (Bexley) is supplied by Thames Water in the Bexley Central zone and scores 7.9 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 2 of 23 tested substances were close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 31 December 2025.
- Lead was measured at 0.064 mg/L, 6.4 times the UK limitIt is the furthest over its limit of the 2 substances flagged here. See the full results
- 8th cleanest of 9 areas tested in Bexley1 area in Bexley scored lower. The best is DA15 on 8.5.
- Very hard water at 282 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in DA5. How hardness is measured
Questions about DA5 water
Is DA5 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DA5 (Bexley) water scores 7.9/10, which is safe. 2 of 23 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Thames Water.
What contaminants are in DA5 water?
We tested 23 contaminants in DA5 water. 2 were flagged, including Nitrite, Lead.
Who supplies water in DA5?
DA5 (Bexley) is supplied by Thames Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is DA5 water hard or soft?
Water in DA5 (Bexley) has a hardness of 282 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 DA5?
With 2 contaminants above recommended levels in DA5, 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 DA5 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for DA5, 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 DA5?
The Environment Agency rated the Upper Cray as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by 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 DA5, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- Lead Pipes in the UKHow to check for lead pipes and reduce exposure
- 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?
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
- 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
Lead in waterNitrate levelsHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near DA5
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 DA5.