Tap water in GL56, CotswoldSafe to drink.Very hard.
Supplied by Severn Trent. 112 samples, 8 substances, latest on 12 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.6 / 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.
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 GL56 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.
Aluminium came closest to a limit, at 11% of it. 5 of 5 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Aluminium11%
- Colour4%
- Iron3%
- Turbidity3%
- Manganese1%
- pH 7.18 pH
- Conductivity 264 µS/cm
- Phosphate 1.07 mg/L
All 8 results as a table
258mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the GL area. GL56 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 GL56
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Your river is the Evenlode (Source to Four Shires S) and Longborough Stream, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Evenlode (Source to Four Shires S) and Longborough Stream 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
GL56 in short
Tap water in GL56 (Cotswold) is supplied by Severn Trent in the Cotswold Central zone and scores 9.6 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 8 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 12 December 2025.
- The cleanest tap water of the 5 areas tested in CotswoldGL56 scores 9.6 out of 10, ahead of GL9 in second place 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
- 0.6 points above the national average of 9Cleaner than the typical tested district in the UK. Compare every area
Questions about GL56 water
Is GL56 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, GL56 (Cotswold) water scores 9.6/10, which is safe. 0 of 8 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Severn Trent.
What contaminants are in GL56 water?
We tested 8 contaminants in GL56 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in GL56?
GL56 (Cotswold) is supplied by Severn Trent. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is GL56 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for GL56 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 GL56?
GL56 water scored 9.6/10 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 GL56 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for GL56, 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 GL56?
The Environment Agency rated the Evenlode (Source to Four Shires S) and Longborough Stream 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 GL56, 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 GL56
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 GL56.