Tap water in GU19, Surrey HeathSafe to drink.Very hard.
Supplied by Thames Water. 74 samples, 23 substances, latest on 31 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit. One result, nitrite, sits close to the line.
8.6 / 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 225 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
Maximum contaminant removal including PFAS and fluoride
Waterdrop 10UA Under Sink
£70typical price
High-volume under-sink filtration without RO complexity
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What's in a glass of GU19 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.
Nitrite came closest to a limit, at 98% of it. 17 of 19 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrite98%
- Nitrate49%
- Lead23%
- Trihalomethanes20%
- Copper12%
- Bromate10%
- Fluoride9%
- Colour9%
- Cadmium8%
- Mercury7%
- Arsenic7%
- Antimony6%
- Nickel5%
- Chromium5%
- Aluminium4%
- Boron4%
- Iron4%
- Selenium3%
- Manganese2%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 514 µS/cm
All 23 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrite | 0.49 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 98% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Colour | 1.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 9% |
| Conductivity | 514 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Fluoride | 0.14 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 9% |
| Nitrate | 24.7 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 49% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 225 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.0083 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Antimony | 0.0003 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 6% |
| Arsenic | 0.0007 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 7% |
| Boron | 0.04 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 4% |
| Cadmium | 0.0004 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 8% |
| Chromium | 0.0025 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.23 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 12% |
| Iron | 0.008 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Lead | 0.0023 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 23% |
| Manganese | 0.0012 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| Mercury | 0.00007 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 7% |
| Nickel | 0.001 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 5% |
| Selenium | 0.001 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 3% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.02 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 20% |
| Bromate | 0.001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 10% |
225mg 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 GU19
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Your river is the Hale/Mill Bourne (Bagshot to Addlestone Bourne confluence near Chobham), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Hale/Mill Bourne (Bagshot to Addlestone Bourne confluence near Chobham) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by phosphate and fish. 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
50
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 1 site. The highest was PFPeA at 0.012 µg/L, at Cut at Pitts Bridge, Binfield, 10.0 km away, in June 2023. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Reading · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
GU19 in short
Tap water in GU19 (Surrey Heath) is supplied by Thames Water in the Surrey Heath Central zone and scores 8.6 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 23 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 31 December 2025.
- Nitrite is within its legal limit but flagged, at 98% of the 0.5 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 Surrey Heath1 area in Surrey Heath scored lower. The best is GU18 on 9.3.
- Hard water at 225 mg/LHard starts at 180 mg/L, the point where a softener begins to pay for itself. Limescale will build up in GU19. How hardness is measured
Questions about GU19 water
Is GU19 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, GU19 (Surrey Heath) water scores 8.6/10, which is safe. 1 of 23 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Thames Water.
What contaminants are in GU19 water?
We tested 23 contaminants in GU19 water. 1 were flagged, including Nitrite. 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 GU19?
GU19 (Surrey Heath) is supplied by Thames Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is GU19 water hard or soft?
Water in GU19 (Surrey Heath) has a hardness of 225 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 GU19?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in GU19, 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 GU19 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for GU19 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 50 river and groundwater samples from 1 sites within 10 km of GU19, the highest being PFPeA at 0.012 µg/L about 10 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 GU19?
The Environment Agency rated the Hale/Mill Bourne (Bagshot to Addlestone Bourne confluence near Chobham) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by phosphate and fish. 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 GU19, 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 GU19
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 GU19.