Tap water in DT11, DorsetToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 8 substances, latest on 12 October 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near DT11, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.7 / 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 305 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 DT11 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 27% of it. 2 of 3 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Ammonia27%
- Nitrate9%
- Nitrite3%
- pH 8.09 pH
- Temperature 15.2 °C
- Conductivity 505 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.077 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 9.87 mg/L
All 8 results as a table
305mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the DT area. DT11 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 DT11
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Your river is the Stour (Middle u/s Pimperne Brook), rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Stour (Middle u/s Pimperne Brook) 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 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. Its ecological rating has dropped since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
DT11 in short
Tap water in DT11 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Dorset Central zone and scores 8.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 8 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 12 October 2026.
- 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
- 10th cleanest of 18 areas tested in DorsetSquarely mid-table for Dorset, between DT1 on 9.7 and BH19 on 4.8.
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Ammonia at 27% of the 0.5 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about DT11 water
Is DT11 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DT11 (Dorset) water scores 8.7/10, which is safe. 0 of 8 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in DT11 water?
We tested 8 contaminants in DT11 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in DT11?
DT11 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is DT11 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for DT11 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 DT11?
DT11 water scored 8.7/10 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 DT11 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for DT11, 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 DT11?
The Environment Agency rated the Stour (Middle u/s Pimperne Brook) 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 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. Its ecological rating has dropped since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in DT11, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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