Tap water in FY4, BlackpoolLead is over the limit.Slightly hard.
Supplied by United Utilities. 2,547 samples, 16 substances, latest on 27 December 2024. Lead came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
8.4 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis
£550typical price
Removes lead, the result that stood out in FY4.
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes lead, the result that stood out in FY4.
Doulton HIP Ultracarb
£120typical price
Removes lead, the result that stood out in FY4.
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 FY4 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.
Lead is over its legal limit, at 142% of it.
- Lead142%
- Trihalomethanes24%
- Nickel14%
- Ammonia11%
- Nitrate9%
- Antimony6%
- Turbidity5%
- Iron3%
- Bromate3%
- Aluminium3%
- Selenium2%
- Nitrite2%
- Cadmium2%
- Chromium2%
- Manganese<1%
- Copper<1%
All 16 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0.0142 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 142% |
| Aluminium | 0.00622 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Iron | 0.007 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Manganese | 0.00045 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Copper | 0.0000282 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.00282 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 14% |
| Turbidity | 0.2 NTU | 4 NTU | 5% |
| Bromate | 0.00033 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 3% |
| Cadmium | 0.00009 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Chromium | 0.00083 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| Antimony | 0.00031 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 6% |
| Selenium | 0.00085 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Nitrate | 4.38 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 9% |
| Nitrite | 0.0098 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 2% |
| Ammonia | 0.054 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 11% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0237 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 24% |
133mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the FY area. FY4 has no reading of its own.
Middling hardness. Some scale, slowly
Below the point where a softener pays for itself. Descaling the kettle now and then is all most homes need.
Your river is the Main Drain (Ribble), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Main Drain (Ribble) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by dissolved oxygen, insects and other small river life and ammonia. 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
40
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 4 sites. The highest was PFOA at 0.052 µg/L, at Blackpool Solarium Recreation Ground BH, 2.1 km away, in September 2025. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Blackpool · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
FY4 in short
Tap water in FY4 (Blackpool) is supplied by United Utilities in the Blackpool Central zone and scores 8.4 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 16 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 27 December 2024.
- Lead was measured at 0.014 mg/L, 42% over the UK limitIt is the only one of 16 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- The lowest score of the 4 areas tested in BlackpoolFY4 scores 8.4 out of 10. The best in Blackpool, FY3, scores 9.3. Every area in Blackpool
- Every one of the 4 neighbouring districts scores higherFY8 next door scores 9.4, against 8.4 here. Supply zones, not distance, explain the gap. See FY8
Questions about FY4 water
Is FY4 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, FY4 (Blackpool) water scores 8.4/10, which is safe. 1 of 16 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by United Utilities.
What contaminants are in FY4 water?
We tested 16 contaminants in FY4 water. 1 were flagged, including Lead. 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 FY4?
FY4 (Blackpool) is supplied by United Utilities. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is FY4 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for FY4 itself. Across the FY postcode area the typical value is 133 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately hard. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in FY4?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in FY4, 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 FY4 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for FY4 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 40 river and groundwater samples from 4 sites within 10 km of FY4, the highest being PFOA at 0.052 µg/L about 2.1 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 FY4?
The Environment Agency rated the Main Drain (Ribble) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by dissolved oxygen, insects and other small river life and ammonia. 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 FY4, 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
- Lead Pipes in the UKHow to check for lead pipes and reduce exposure
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
PFAS explainedLead in waterHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of BlackpoolUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near FY4
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 FY4.