Tap water in GL19, Forest of DeanSafe to drink.Very hard.
Supplied by Severn Trent. 612 samples, 20 substances, latest on 16 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit. One result, nitrate, sits close to the line.
9.2 / 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 258 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.
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis
£550typical price
Removes nitrate, the result that stood out in GL19.
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes nitrate, the result that stood out in GL19.
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What's in a glass of GL19 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 76% of it. 16 of 17 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate76%
- Aluminium11%
- Fluoride10%
- Arsenic7%
- Iron6%
- Nickel5%
- Trihalomethanes5%
- Colour4%
- Turbidity3%
- Manganese1%
- Lead1%
- Copper1%
- Selenium1%
- Antimony1%
- Chromium<1%
- Nitrite<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- pH 7.83 pH
- Conductivity 233 µS/cm
- Phosphate 1.06 mg/L
All 20 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 38 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 76% |
| Aluminium | 0.021 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 11% |
| Iron | 0.0122 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Manganese | 0.00073 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Turbidity | 0.12 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| pH | 7.83 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Colour | 0.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 4% |
| Conductivity | 233 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Copper | 0.0272 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 1% |
| Fluoride | 0.15 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 10% |
| Arsenic | 0.00074 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 7% |
| Cadmium | 0.00002 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Chromium | 0.00042 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.001 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 5% |
| Lead | 0.00014 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Antimony | 0.000059 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 1% |
| Selenium | 0.0005 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 1% |
| Nitrite | 0.003 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | <1% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0046 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 5% |
| Phosphate | 1.06 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
258mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the GL area. GL19 has no reading of its own.
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 GL19
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Your river is the Leadon - conf Preston Bk to conf R Severn (W Channel), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Leadon - conf Preston Bk to conf R Severn (W Channel) 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
135
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 9 sites. The highest was PFOA at 0.015 µg/L, at Horesbere Brook Sandhurst Lane, 7.1 km away, in July 2023. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Gloucester · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
GL19 in short
Tap water in GL19 (Forest of Dean) is supplied by Severn Trent in the Forest of Dean Central zone and scores 9.2 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 20 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 16 December 2025.
- Nitrate is within its legal limit but flagged, at 76% of the 50 mg/L maximumAnything over three quarters of a limit is flagged here as worth watching. It has not gone over. See every reading
- 5th cleanest of 6 areas tested in Forest of Dean1 area in Forest of Dean scored lower. The best is GL14 on 9.6.
- Very hard water at 258 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles across the GL postcode area. How hardness is measured
Questions about GL19 water
Is GL19 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, GL19 (Forest of Dean) water scores 9.2/10, which is safe. 1 of 20 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Severn Trent.
What contaminants are in GL19 water?
We tested 20 contaminants in GL19 water. 1 were flagged, including Nitrate. 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 GL19?
GL19 (Forest of Dean) is supplied by Severn Trent. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is GL19 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for GL19 itself. Across the GL postcode area the typical value is 258 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 GL19?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in GL19, 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 GL19 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for GL19 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 135 river and groundwater samples from 9 sites within 10 km of GL19, the highest being PFOA at 0.015 µg/L about 7.1 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 GL19?
The Environment Agency rated the Leadon - conf Preston Bk to conf R Severn (W Channel) 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 GL19, 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 GL19
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 GL19.