Tap water in IG7, Redbridge2 results are over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Thames Water. 9 substances, latest on 6 August 2026. Ammonia and Nitrite came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
2.9 / 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 272 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 IG7 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.
Ammonia is over its legal limit, at 720% of it.
- Ammonia720%
- Nitrite198%
- Nitrate12%
- pH 7.49 pH
- Temperature 17.8 °C
- Conductivity 949 µS/cm
- Dissolved Oxygen 5.02 mg/L
- Phosphate 2.2 mg/L
- PFAS (total) 0.0086 µg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | 3.6 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 720% |
| Nitrite | 0.99 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 198% |
| pH | 7.49 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 17.8 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 949 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 5.9 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 12% |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 5.02 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Phosphate | 2.2 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. IG7 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 IG7
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Your river is the Seven Kings Water, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Seven Kings Water as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by insects and other small river life, ammonia and dissolved oxygen. 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, 9.0 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
IG7 in short
Tap water in IG7 (Redbridge) is supplied by Thames Water in the Redbridge Central zone and scores 2.9 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 2 of 9 tested substances were close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 6 August 2026.
- Ammonia was measured at 3.6 mg/L, 7.2 times the UK limitIt is the furthest over its limit of the 2 substances flagged here. See the full results
- The lowest score of the 10 areas tested in RedbridgeIG7 scores 2.9 out of 10. The best in Redbridge, IG5, scores 8.5.
- 6.1 points below the national average of 9Below the typical tested district in the UK, which is worth knowing before you choose a filter. Compare every area
Questions about IG7 water
Is IG7 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, IG7 (Redbridge) water scores 2.9/10, which is below average and may need attention. 2 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Thames Water.
What contaminants are in IG7 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in IG7 water. 2 were flagged, including Ammonia, Nitrite. PFAS (forever chemicals) were also detected at 0.0086 µg/L in nearby environmental monitoring.
Who supplies water in IG7?
IG7 (Redbridge) is supplied by Thames Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is IG7 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for IG7 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 IG7?
With 2 contaminants above recommended levels in IG7, 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 IG7 water?
Yes, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been detected in IG7 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 IG7?
The Environment Agency rated the Seven Kings Water as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by insects and other small river life, ammonia and dissolved oxygen. 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 IG7, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- Best Filter for PFAS RemovalThe filters with independent certification to remove forever chemicals
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- 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
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- Best water softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared
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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 explainedNitrate levelsHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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