Tap water in DE22, DerbySafe to drink.
Supplied by Severn Trent. 1,390 samples, 20 substances, latest on 21 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.3 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
What to do about it

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

BRITA Marella XL + MAXTRA PRO
£25typical price
Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget
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What's in a glass of DE22 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.
Trihalomethanes came closest to a limit, at 25% of it. 16 of 17 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Trihalomethanes25%
- Fluoride24%
- Nitrate24%
- Nickel11%
- Aluminium11%
- Antimony5%
- Iron5%
- Colour4%
- Turbidity3%
- Cadmium3%
- Manganese1%
- Arsenic1%
- Lead1%
- Selenium1%
- Copper<1%
- Chromium<1%
- Nitrite<1%
- Conductivity 290 µS/cm
- pH 7.39 pH
- Phosphate 1.03 mg/L
All 20 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conductivity | 290 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| pH | 7.39 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Colour | 0.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 4% |
| Turbidity | 0.12 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Aluminium | 0.021 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 11% |
| Iron | 0.009 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 5% |
| Manganese | 0.00073 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Nitrate | 11.8 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 24% |
| Nitrite | 0.003 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | <1% |
| Copper | 0.0194 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Fluoride | 0.36 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 24% |
| Arsenic | 0.00014 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Cadmium | 0.00013 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 3% |
| Chromium | 0.00042 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.0022 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 11% |
| Lead | 0.00014 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Antimony | 0.000244 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 5% |
| Selenium | 0.00051 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 1% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0254 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 25% |
| Phosphate | 1.03 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
Your river is the Markeaton Brook from Mackworth Brook to Derwent, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Markeaton Brook from Mackworth Brook to Derwent 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 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
106
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 17 sites. The highest was 6:2 FTSA at 0.061 µg/L, at Spring at Breadsall Manor Groundwater Quality Monitoring D22/15A, 4.2 km away, in March 2026. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Derby · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
DE22 in short
Tap water in DE22 (Derby) is supplied by Severn Trent in the Derby Central zone and scores 9.3 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 20 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 21 December 2025.
- 2nd cleanest of 6 areas tested in DerbyOnly 1 area in Derby scored higher. The best is DE1 on 9.3. Every area in Derby
- PFAS found at 17 monitoring sites within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was 6:2 FTSA about 4.2 km away. What was measured
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Trihalomethanes at 25% of the 0.1 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about DE22 water
Is DE22 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DE22 (Derby) water scores 9.3/10, which is safe. 0 of 20 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Severn Trent.
What contaminants are in DE22 water?
We tested 20 contaminants in DE22 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels. PFAS (forever chemicals) were also measured in rivers and groundwater within 10 km, though not in the tap-water tests themselves.
Who supplies water in DE22?
DE22 (Derby) is supplied by Severn Trent. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Should I use a water filter in DE22?
DE22 water scored 9.3/10 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 DE22 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for DE22 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 106 river and groundwater samples from 17 sites within 10 km of DE22, the highest being 6:2 FTSA at 0.061 µg/L about 4.2 km away. These are environmental samples, not tests of tap water. The UK currently has no legal limit for PFAS in drinking water; the Drinking Water Inspectorate uses a 0.1 µg/L guideline for individual compounds. Reverse osmosis filters can reduce PFAS levels.
How clean is the river near DE22?
The Environment Agency rated the Markeaton Brook from Mackworth Brook to Derwent 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 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 DE22, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- Best Filter for PFAS RemovalThe filters with independent certification to remove forever chemicals
- PFAS Forever ChemicalsWhat PFAS are and how to reduce your exposure at home
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of DerbyUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near DE22
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.
| Substance | Reading | Drinking water limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0.011 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Manganese | 0.05 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| pH | 8.2 pH | None |
| Temperature | 15.3 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 609 µS/cm | None |
| Cadmium | 0.00012 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 208 mg/L | None |
| Zinc | 0.025 mg/L | None |
| Nickel | 0.0019 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.0022 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Iron | 0.073 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| Ammonia | 0.083 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 3.3 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for DE22.