Tap water in DG16, Dumfries and GallowayToo few tap tests to call it.Soft.
Supplied by Scottish Water. 18 substances, latest on 13 October 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near DG16, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.5 / 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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Waterdrop 10UA Under Sink
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High-volume under-sink filtration without RO complexity
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 DG16 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 came closest to a limit, at 73% of it. 9 of 11 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Turbidity73%
- Iron70%
- Manganese24%
- Ammonia8%
- Fluoride7%
- Nickel3%
- Lead1%
- Nitrite1%
- Nitrate1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Copper<1%
- pH 7.95 pH
- Temperature 11.5 °C
- Conductivity 191 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.013 mg/L
- Zinc 0.0071 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 10.6 mg/L
All 18 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0.00014 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| pH | 7.95 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 11.5 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 191 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Cadmium | 0.00001 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Nitrate | 0.52 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 1% |
| Phosphate | 0.013 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Zinc | 0.0071 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Nickel | 0.0007 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 3% |
| Turbidity | 2.9 NTU | 4 NTU | 73% |
| Copper | 0.0011 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Manganese | 0.012 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 24% |
| Iron | 0.14 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 70% |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 10.6 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.041 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 8% |
| Nitrite | 0.0067 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 1% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 298 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Fluoride | 0.1 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 7% |
39mg 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 estuary is the Solway, rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Solway as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the estuary is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by algal blooms and insects and other small river life. 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
DG16 in short
Tap water in DG16 (Dumfries and Galloway) is supplied by Scottish Water in the Dumfries and Galloway Central zone and scores 8.5 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 18 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 13 October 2026.
- The lowest score of the 3 areas tested in Dumfries and GallowayDG16 scores 8.5 out of 10. The best in Dumfries and Galloway, DG14, scores 9.7.
- Turbidity is the reading closest to its limit, at 73% of the 4 NTU maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- Soft water at 39 mg/LLimescale is not a problem in DG16, so skip softeners and scale filters entirely. How hardness is measured
Next door
Questions about DG16 water
Is DG16 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DG16 (Dumfries and Galloway) water scores 8.5/10, which is safe. 0 of 18 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Scottish Water.
What contaminants are in DG16 water?
We tested 18 contaminants in DG16 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in DG16?
DG16 (Dumfries and Galloway) is supplied by Scottish Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is DG16 water hard or soft?
Water in DG16 (Dumfries and Galloway) has a hardness of 39 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as soft. Soft water is gentle on appliances and skin.
Should I use a water filter in DG16?
DG16 water scored 8.5/10 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 DG16 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for DG16, 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 estuary near DG16?
The Environment Agency rated the Solway as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the estuary is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by algal blooms and insects and other small river life. 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 estuary, not of tap water in DG16, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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