Tap water in DN12, DoncasterNitrite is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Yorkshire Water. 1,086 samples, 25 substances, latest on 8 September 2026. Nitrite came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
8.8 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 265 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
It pays for itself in most homes at this hardness, through a boiler that stays efficient and appliances that last.
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis
£550typical price
Maximum contaminant removal including PFAS and fluoride
Waterdrop 10UA Under Sink
£70typical price
High-volume under-sink filtration without RO complexity
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What's in a glass of DN12 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.
Nitrite is over its legal limit, at 140% of it.
- Nitrite140%
- Nitrate70%
- Colour15%
- Lead9%
- Fluoride7%
- Aluminium6%
- Trihalomethanes5%
- Iron5%
- Arsenic5%
- Mercury4%
- Manganese4%
- Turbidity3%
- Bromate2%
- Boron2%
- Selenium2%
- Nickel2%
- Antimony1%
- Copper1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Chromium<1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 539 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.779 mg/L
All 25 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrite | 0.7 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 140% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Nitrate | 34.8 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 70% |
| Colour | 3 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 15% |
| Turbidity | 0.11 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Conductivity | 539 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.0113 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Manganese | 0.00178 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 4% |
| Iron | 0.00928 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 5% |
| Phosphate | 0.779 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Mercury | 0.00004 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 4% |
| Chromium | 0.00025 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Copper | 0.0248 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 1% |
| Cadmium | 0.000031 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Boron | 0.0199 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 2% |
| Nickel | 0.00033 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 2% |
| Lead | 0.00092 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 9% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.00525 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 5% |
| Selenium | 0.00069 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Arsenic | 0.00045 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 5% |
| Antimony | 0.000063 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 1% |
| Fluoride | 0.11 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 7% |
| Bromate | 0.0002 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 262 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
265mg 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 Kearsley Bk, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Kearsley Bk as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by 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
12
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 1 site. The highest was PFBS at 0.0093 µg/L, at RSN1844 River Don at Eastwood Lock, 8.6 km away, in June 2024. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Sheffield · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
DN12 in short
Tap water in DN12 (Doncaster) is supplied by Yorkshire Water in the Doncaster Central zone and scores 8.8 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 25 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 8 September 2026.
- Nitrite was measured at 0.7 mg/L, 40% over the UK limitIt is the only one of 25 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- 8th cleanest of 10 areas tested in Doncaster2 areas in Doncaster scored lower. The best is DN6 on 9.3.
- Very hard water at 265 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in DN12. How hardness is measured
Questions about DN12 water
Is DN12 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DN12 (Doncaster) water scores 8.8/10, which is safe. 1 of 25 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Yorkshire Water.
What contaminants are in DN12 water?
We tested 25 contaminants in DN12 water. 1 were flagged, including Nitrite. 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 DN12?
DN12 (Doncaster) is supplied by Yorkshire Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is DN12 water hard or soft?
Water in DN12 (Doncaster) has a hardness of 265 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 DN12?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in DN12, a water filter could help. A reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter is recommended for PFAS removal. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in DN12 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for DN12 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 12 river and groundwater samples from 1 sites within 10 km of DN12, the highest being PFBS at 0.0093 µg/L about 8.6 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 DN12?
The Environment Agency rated the Kearsley Bk as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by 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 DN12, 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
- 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
PFAS explainedNitrate levelsHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near DN12
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | 2.7 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| pH | 7.44 pH | None |
| Temperature | 16.8 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 4681 µS/cm | None |
| Nitrate | 0.37 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.098 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 7.24 mg/L | None |
| Phosphate | 0.014 mg/L | None |
| Lead | 0.00016 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Cadmium | 0.000031 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 343 mg/L | None |
| Zinc | 0.013 mg/L | None |
| Nickel | 0.0027 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Manganese | 0.0097 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.00021 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
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