Tap water in IP15, East SuffolkToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Anglian Water. 9 substances, latest on 23 October 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near IP15, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.7 / 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 380 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 IP15 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 19% of it. 4 of 4 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate19%
- Iron18%
- Nitrite13%
- Ammonia7%
- pH 7.62 pH
- Temperature 12 °C
- Conductivity 514 µS/cm
- Dissolved Oxygen 7.25 mg/L
- Phosphate 0.12 mg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.62 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 12 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 514 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 7.25 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Iron | 0.035 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 18% |
| Ammonia | 0.034 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 7% |
| Nitrate | 9.4 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 19% |
| Nitrite | 0.063 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 13% |
| Phosphate | 0.12 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
380mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the IP area. IP15 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 IP15
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Your river is the Hundred River, rated bad
The Environment Agency rated the Hundred River as bad for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is severely damaged, with most of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by fish, dissolved oxygen 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. Its ecological rating has dropped since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
IP15 in short
Tap water in IP15 (East Suffolk) is supplied by Anglian Water in the East Suffolk Central zone and scores 8.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 9 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 23 October 2026.
- The lowest score of the 13 areas tested in East SuffolkIP15 scores 8.7 out of 10. The best in East Suffolk, NR33, scores 9.4.
- Among the hardest water in the country at 380 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase across the IP postcode area. How hardness is measured
- Every one of the 9 neighbouring districts scores higherNR33 next door scores 9.4, against 8.7 here. Supply zones, not distance, explain the gap. See NR33
Questions about IP15 water
Is IP15 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, IP15 (East Suffolk) water scores 8.7/10, which is safe. 0 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Anglian Water.
What contaminants are in IP15 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in IP15 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in IP15?
IP15 (East Suffolk) is supplied by Anglian Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is IP15 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for IP15 itself. Across the IP postcode area the typical value is 380 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 IP15?
IP15 water scored 8.7/10 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 IP15 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for IP15, 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 IP15?
The Environment Agency rated the Hundred River as bad for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is severely damaged, with most of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by fish, dissolved oxygen 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. Its ecological rating has dropped since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in IP15, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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