Tap water in E20, Newham2 results are over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Thames Water. 76 samples, 23 substances, latest on 31 December 2025. Coliform Bacteria and Nitrite came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
7.7 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Osmio Zero 2.0 Countertop RO
£495typical price
Removes coliform bacteria, the result that stood out in E20.
Stop the limescale
At 270 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes coliform bacteria, the result that stood out in E20.
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What's in a glass of E20 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 130% of it.
- Nitrite130%
- Nitrate63%
- Bromate24%
- Trihalomethanes19%
- Lead13%
- Nickel12%
- Fluoride11%
- Arsenic10%
- Colour9%
- Antimony8%
- Cadmium8%
- Boron7%
- Mercury7%
- Chromium5%
- Aluminium4%
- Iron3%
- Copper3%
- Selenium1%
- Manganese1%
- Coliform Bacteria 1 count/100ml found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 638 µS/cm
All 23 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform Bacteria | 1 count/100ml | Must be zero | Found |
| Nitrite | 0.65 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 130% |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Colour | 1.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 9% |
| Conductivity | 638 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Fluoride | 0.17 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 11% |
| Nitrate | 31.3 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 63% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 270 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.0082 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Antimony | 0.0004 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 8% |
| Arsenic | 0.001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 10% |
| Boron | 0.07 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 7% |
| Cadmium | 0.0004 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 8% |
| Chromium | 0.0025 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.05 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 3% |
| Iron | 0.007 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Lead | 0.0013 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 13% |
| Manganese | 0.0006 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Mercury | 0.00007 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 7% |
| Nickel | 0.0024 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 12% |
| Selenium | 0.0005 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 1% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.019 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 19% |
| Bromate | 0.0024 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 24% |
270mg 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 Lee (Tottenham Locks to Bow Locks/Three Mills Locks), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Lee (Tottenham Locks to Bow Locks/Three Mills Locks) 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 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 improved since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
814
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 10 sites. The highest was 6:2 FtSAB at 0.016 µg/L, at Lee at Carpenters Rd, under 1 km away, in January 2026. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around London · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
E20 in short
Tap water in E20 (Newham) is supplied by Thames Water in the Newham Central zone and scores 7.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 2 of 23 tested substances were close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 31 December 2025.
- Coliform Bacteria detected at 1 per 100 ml, where any amount fails the legal standardAny detection is a failure for this substance. It is one of 2 flagged here. See the full results
- 6th cleanest of 7 areas tested in Newham1 area in Newham scored lower. The best is E16 on 8.5.
- Very hard water at 270 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in E20. How hardness is measured
Questions about E20 water
Is E20 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, E20 (Newham) water scores 7.7/10, which is safe. 2 of 23 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Thames Water.
What contaminants are in E20 water?
We tested 23 contaminants in E20 water. 2 were flagged, including Coliform Bacteria, 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 E20?
E20 (Newham) is supplied by Thames Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is E20 water hard or soft?
Water in E20 (Newham) has a hardness of 270 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 E20?
With 2 contaminants above recommended levels in E20, 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 E20 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for E20 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 814 river and groundwater samples from 10 sites within 10 km of E20, the highest being 6:2 FtSAB at 0.016 µg/L about 0.5 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 E20?
The Environment Agency rated the Lee (Tottenham Locks to Bow Locks/Three Mills Locks) 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 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 improved since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in E20, 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 E20
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 3.9 NTU | 4 NTU |
| pH | 7.47 pH | None |
| Temperature | 19.8 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 1074 µS/cm | None |
| Ammonia | 0.083 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 20 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.062 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.84 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 7.79 mg/L | None |
| Lead | 0.0016 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Cadmium | 0.000022 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.015 mg/L | None |
| Nickel | 0.0046 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Arsenic | 0.0013 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.002 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Manganese | 0.021 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Iron | 0.038 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
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