Tap water in IG10, Epping ForestFluoride is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Affinity Water. 11 substances, latest on 17 July 2026. Fluoride came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
7.1 / 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 fluoride, the result that stood out in IG10.
Stop the limescale
At 272 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
ZeroWater 12-Cup Ready-Pour
£40typical price
Removes fluoride, the result that stood out in IG10.
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What's in a glass of IG10 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.
Fluoride is over its legal limit, at 133% of it.
- Fluoride133%
- Nitrate30%
- Ammonia9%
- Nitrite5%
- pH 7.54 pH
- Temperature 18.7 °C
- Conductivity 1128 µS/cm
- Phosphate 2.1 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 5.31 mg/L
- PFAS (total) 0.0086 µg/L
All 11 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 2 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 133% |
| pH | 7.54 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 18.7 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 1128 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 15 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 30% |
| Nitrite | 0.024 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 5% |
| Phosphate | 2.1 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 5.31 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.044 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 9% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 24.1 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| PFAS (total) | 0.0086 µg/L | No legal limit | – |
272mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the IG area. IG10 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 IG10
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Your river is the Lower Roding (Loughton to Thames), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Lower Roding (Loughton to Thames) 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 insects and other small river life. 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
83
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 4 sites. The highest was PFOS at 0.014 µg/L, at Lee Navigation Subsidiary B Above Picketts Lock, 7.2 km away, in July 2023. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around London · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
IG10 in short
Tap water in IG10 (Epping Forest) is supplied by Affinity Water in the Epping Forest Central zone and scores 7.1 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 11 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 17 July 2026.
- Fluoride was measured at 2 mg/L, 33% over the UK limitIt is the only one of 11 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- The lowest score of the 6 areas tested in Epping ForestIG10 scores 7.1 out of 10. The best in Epping Forest, CM5, scores 9.5.
- Very hard water at 272 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles across the IG postcode area. How hardness is measured
Questions about IG10 water
Is IG10 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, IG10 (Epping Forest) water scores 7.1/10, which is safe. 1 of 11 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Affinity Water.
What contaminants are in IG10 water?
We tested 11 contaminants in IG10 water. 1 were flagged, including Fluoride. PFAS (forever chemicals) were also detected at 0.0086 µg/L in nearby environmental monitoring.
Who supplies water in IG10?
IG10 (Epping Forest) is supplied by Affinity Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is IG10 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for IG10 itself. Across the IG postcode area the typical value is 272 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 IG10?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in IG10, 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 IG10 water?
Yes, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been detected in IG10 at 0.0086 µg/L from environmental monitoring. The UK currently has no legal limit for PFAS in drinking water. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters can reduce PFAS levels.
How clean is the river near IG10?
The Environment Agency rated the Lower Roding (Loughton to Thames) 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 insects and other small river life. 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 IG10, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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- Installation explainedWhere it goes, the bypass tap, the drain, DIY or plumber
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- Softener salt guideTablet, block or granular, and how much you get through
- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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