Tap water in DG14, Dumfries and GallowayToo few tap tests to call it.Moderately soft.
Supplied by Scottish Water. 10 substances, latest on 12 May 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near DG14, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
9.7 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
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BRITA Marella XL + MAXTRA PRO
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Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget
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What's in a glass of DG14 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.
Ammonia came closest to a limit, at 7% of it. 4 of 4 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Ammonia7%
- Nitrate3%
- Nitrite2%
- Copper<1%
- pH 8.29 pH
- Temperature 10.3 °C
- Conductivity 356 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.024 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 11.9 mg/L
- Zinc 0.00729 mg/L
All 10 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.29 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 10.3 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 356 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 1.6 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 3% |
| Nitrite | 0.0081 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 2% |
| Phosphate | 0.024 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 11.9 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.035 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 7% |
| Copper | 0.00105 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.00729 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
69mg of limescale minerals in every litre
Soft water. Kind to kettles, boilers and skin
You will not need a softener here, and you will use less soap and detergent than most of England.
Your river is the Esk (Eden and Esk), rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Esk (Eden and Esk) as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by fish. 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
DG14 in short
Tap water in DG14 (Dumfries and Galloway) is supplied by Scottish Water in the Dumfries and Galloway Central zone and scores 9.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 10 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 12 May 2026.
- The cleanest tap water of the 3 areas tested in Dumfries and GallowayDG14 scores 9.7 out of 10, ahead of DG12 in second place on 8.8.
- 0.7 points above the national average of 9Cleaner than the typical tested district in the UK. Compare every area
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Ammonia at 7% of the 0.5 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about DG14 water
Is DG14 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DG14 (Dumfries and Galloway) water scores 9.7/10, which is safe. 0 of 10 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Scottish Water.
What contaminants are in DG14 water?
We tested 10 contaminants in DG14 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in DG14?
DG14 (Dumfries and Galloway) is supplied by Scottish Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is DG14 water hard or soft?
Water in DG14 (Dumfries and Galloway) has a hardness of 69 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately soft. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in DG14?
DG14 water scored 9.7/10 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 DG14 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for DG14, 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 DG14?
The Environment Agency rated the Esk (Eden and Esk) as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by fish. 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 DG14, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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- How to Test Your Tap WaterFrom DIY strips to professional lab analysis
- Best Water Filter Jug UKBRITA vs ZeroWater vs the rest, tested against real data
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