Tap water in DT1, DorsetToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 13 substances, latest on 17 December 2024. These are river and groundwater samples near DT1, 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
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 296 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.
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
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What's in a glass of DT1 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.
Nitrate came closest to a limit, at 10% of it. 7 of 7 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate10%
- Ammonia7%
- Manganese5%
- Nitrite2%
- Nickel<1%
- Lead<1%
- Copper<1%
- pH 8.12 pH
- Temperature 10.1 °C
- Conductivity 544 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.071 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 11 mg/L
- Zinc 0.00384 mg/L
All 13 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.12 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 10.1 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 544 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 5.2 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 10% |
| Nitrite | 0.0085 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 2% |
| Phosphate | 0.071 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 11 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.034 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 7% |
| Lead | 0.00005 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.00384 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Nickel | 0.00017 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | <1% |
| Manganese | 0.00264 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.0003 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
296mg 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 DT1
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Your river is the Frome Dorset (Lower) u/s Louds Mill Dorchester, rated good
The Environment Agency rated the Frome Dorset (Lower) u/s Louds Mill Dorchester as good for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is only slightly changed from its natural state. 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
DT1 in short
Tap water in DT1 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Dorset Central zone and scores 9.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 13 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 17 December 2024.
- The cleanest tap water of the 18 areas tested in DorsetDT1 scores 9.7 out of 10, ahead of DT5 in second place on 9.5.
- Very hard water at 296 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in DT1. How hardness is measured
- Scores higher than all 10 neighbouring districtsThe nearest rival is DT9 on 9.5, against 9.7 here. Compare with DT9
Questions about DT1 water
Is DT1 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DT1 (Dorset) water scores 9.7/10, which is safe. 0 of 13 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in DT1 water?
We tested 13 contaminants in DT1 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in DT1?
DT1 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is DT1 water hard or soft?
Water in DT1 (Dorset) has a hardness of 296 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 DT1?
DT1 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 DT1 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for DT1, 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 DT1?
The Environment Agency rated the Frome Dorset (Lower) u/s Louds Mill Dorchester as good for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is only slightly changed from its natural state. 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in DT1, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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