Tap water in EX13, East DevonSafe to drink.Very hard.
Supplied by South West Water. 540 samples, 16 substances, latest on 5 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.4 / 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 214 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 EX13 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 31% of it. 14 of 15 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate31%
- Nickel17%
- Aluminium13%
- Colour10%
- Arsenic6%
- Iron4%
- Turbidity3%
- Selenium3%
- Lead2%
- Antimony2%
- Manganese2%
- Chromium2%
- Copper1%
- Bromate1%
- Cadmium1%
- pH 7.9 pH
All 16 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | 0.0257 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 13% |
| Colour | 2 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 10% |
| Iron | 0.0076 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Manganese | 0.000952 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| pH | 7.9 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Turbidity | 0.13 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Antimony | 0.0001 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Arsenic | 0.00062 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 6% |
| Cadmium | 0.00006 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 1% |
| Chromium | 0.0008 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| Nitrate | 15.7 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 31% |
| Selenium | 0.0012 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 3% |
| Bromate | 0.000132 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Copper | 0.0298 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 1% |
| Lead | 0.00023 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Nickel | 0.0033 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 17% |
214mg 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 EX13
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Your river is the Lower Axe, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Lower Axe as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. 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.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
EX13 in short
Tap water in EX13 (East Devon) is supplied by South West Water in the East Devon Central zone and scores 9.4 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 16 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 5 December 2025.
- 2nd cleanest of 9 areas tested in East DevonOnly 1 area in East Devon scored higher. The best is EX11 on 9.5.
- Hard water at 214 mg/LHard starts at 180 mg/L, the point where a softener begins to pay for itself. Limescale will build up in EX13. How hardness is measured
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Nitrate at 31% of the 50 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about EX13 water
Is EX13 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, EX13 (East Devon) water scores 9.4/10, which is safe. 0 of 16 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by South West Water.
What contaminants are in EX13 water?
We tested 16 contaminants in EX13 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in EX13?
EX13 (East Devon) is supplied by South West Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is EX13 water hard or soft?
Water in EX13 (East Devon) has a hardness of 214 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as hard. Hard water can cause limescale buildup. A water softener or filter jug may help.
Should I use a water filter in EX13?
EX13 water scored 9.4/10 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 EX13 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for EX13, 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 EX13?
The Environment Agency rated the Lower Axe as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. 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. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in EX13, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- 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?
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- 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
How to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near EX13
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 |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.35 pH | None |
| Temperature | 20.4 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 484 µS/cm | None |
| Nitrate | 2.9 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.03 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.094 mg/L | None |
| Zinc | 0.00073 mg/L | None |
| Nickel | 0.001 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Arsenic | 0.0013 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.00081 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Manganese | 0.016 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Iron | 0.077 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 10.5 mg/L | None |
| Turbidity | 1.8 NTU | 4 NTU |
| Ammonia | 0.15 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Lead | 0.00002 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for EX13.