Tap water in DT2, DorsetToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 9 substances, latest on 5 October 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near DT2, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.6 / 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 285 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 DT2 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 7% of it. 2 of 2 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate7%
- Nitrite<1%
- pH 7.9 pH
- Temperature 13.5 °C
- Conductivity 507 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.025 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 9.63 mg/L
- Zinc 0.00077 mg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.9 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 13.5 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 507 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 3.6 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 7% |
| Phosphate | 0.025 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.63 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 258 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Zinc | 0.00077 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrite | 0.0041 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | <1% |
285mg 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 DT2
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Your river is the Cerne, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Cerne as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by fish. 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
DT2 in short
Tap water in DT2 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Dorset Central zone and scores 8.6 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 9 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 5 October 2026.
- Very hard water at 285 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in DT2. How hardness is measured
- 12th 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 Nitrate at 7% of the 50 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about DT2 water
Is DT2 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, DT2 (Dorset) water scores 8.6/10, which is safe. 0 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in DT2 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in DT2 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in DT2?
DT2 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is DT2 water hard or soft?
Water in DT2 (Dorset) has a hardness of 285 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 DT2?
DT2 water scored 8.6/10 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 DT2 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for DT2, 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 DT2?
The Environment Agency rated the Cerne as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by fish. 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 DT2, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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