Tap water in DT10, DorsetTurbidity is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 12 substances, latest on 9 December 2024. Turbidity came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
7.9 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes turbidity, the result that stood out in DT10.
Stop the limescale
At 305 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
BWT E1 Single Lever
£250typical price
Removes turbidity, the result that stood out in DT10.
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What's in a glass of DT10 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 is over its legal limit, at 468% of it.
- Turbidity468%
- Ammonia16%
- Nitrite5%
- Nitrate4%
- Copper<1%
- pH 7.84 pH
- Temperature 7.5 °C
- Conductivity 481 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.14 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 10.7 mg/L
- Zinc 0.0093 mg/L
All 12 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 18.7 NTU | 4 NTU | 468% |
| pH | 7.84 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 7.5 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 481 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.082 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 16% |
| Nitrate | 1.9 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 4% |
| Nitrite | 0.025 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 5% |
| Phosphate | 0.14 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 10.7 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Copper | 0.0041 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.0093 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 266 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
305mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the DT area. DT10 has no reading of its own.
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 DT10
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Your river is the Lydden (Lower), rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Lydden (Lower) 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, 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
DT10 in short
Tap water in DT10 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Dorset Central zone and scores 7.9 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 12 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 9 December 2024.
- Turbidity was measured at 18.7 NTU, 4.7 times the UK limitIt is the only one of 12 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- Among the hardest water in the country at 305 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase across the DT postcode area. How hardness is measured
- 15th cleanest of 18 areas tested in Dorset3 areas in Dorset scored lower. The best is DT1 on 9.7.
Questions about DT10 water
Is DT10 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DT10 (Dorset) water scores 7.9/10, which is safe. 1 of 12 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in DT10 water?
We tested 12 contaminants in DT10 water. 1 were flagged, including Turbidity.
Who supplies water in DT10?
DT10 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is DT10 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for DT10 itself. Across the DT postcode area the typical value is 305 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 DT10?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in DT10, a water filter could help. A filter jug or under-sink filter can reduce most common contaminants. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in DT10 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for DT10, 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 DT10?
The Environment Agency rated the Lydden (Lower) 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, 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 DT10, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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