Tap water in EX3, ExeterSafe to drink.Moderately soft.
Supplied by South West Water. 183 samples, 16 substances, latest on 17 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.1 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
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
BRITA Marella XL + MAXTRA PRO
£25typical price
Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget
We earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we put first. How we make money
What's in a glass of EX3 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 55% of it. 14 of 15 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate55%
- Nickel17%
- Aluminium13%
- Colour10%
- Manganese9%
- Arsenic7%
- Iron5%
- Copper5%
- Turbidity4%
- Selenium3%
- Antimony2%
- Lead2%
- Chromium2%
- Bromate1%
- Cadmium1%
- pH 7.7 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 | 0.00952 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 5% |
| Manganese | 0.00431 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 9% |
| pH | 7.7 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Turbidity | 0.14 NTU | 4 NTU | 4% |
| Antimony | 0.0001 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Arsenic | 0.00074 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 7% |
| Cadmium | 0.00006 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 1% |
| Chromium | 0.0008 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| Nitrate | 27.7 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 55% |
| Selenium | 0.0012 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 3% |
| Bromate | 0.000132 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Copper | 0.0946 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 5% |
| Lead | 0.000179 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Nickel | 0.0033 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 17% |
71mg of limescale minerals in every litre
Soft water. Kind to kettles, boilers and skin
You will not need a softener here, and you will use less soap and detergent than most of England.
Your river is the Lower Clyst, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Lower Clyst 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, 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
38
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 9 sites. The highest was PFBS at 0.0066 µg/L, at SSN0224 Trib of Exe Duryard, 8.4 km away, in September 2025. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Exeter · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
EX3 in short
Tap water in EX3 (Exeter) is supplied by South West Water in the Exeter Central zone and scores 9.1 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 17 December 2025.
- The lowest score of the 4 areas tested in ExeterEX3 scores 9.1 out of 10. The best in Exeter, EX2, scores 9.5. Every area in Exeter
- Every one of the 3 neighbouring districts scores higherEX2 next door scores 9.5, against 9.1 here. Supply zones, not distance, explain the gap. See EX2
- Nitrate is the reading closest to its limit, at 55% of the 50 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
Questions about EX3 water
Is EX3 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, EX3 (Exeter) water scores 9.1/10, which is safe. 0 of 16 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by South West Water.
What contaminants are in EX3 water?
We tested 16 contaminants in EX3 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels. 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 EX3?
EX3 (Exeter) is supplied by South West Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is EX3 water hard or soft?
Water in EX3 (Exeter) has a hardness of 71 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately soft. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in EX3?
EX3 water scored 9.1/10 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 EX3 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for EX3 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 38 river and groundwater samples from 9 sites within 10 km of EX3, the highest being PFBS at 0.0066 µg/L about 8.4 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 EX3?
The Environment Agency rated the Lower Clyst 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, 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 EX3, 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
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of ExeterUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near EX3
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.
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for EX3.