Tap water in IP31, West SuffolkNitrite is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Anglian Water. 812 samples, 22 substances, latest on 23 December 2024. Nitrite came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
8.8 / 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 425 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
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Waterdrop 10UA Under Sink
£70typical price
High-volume under-sink filtration without RO complexity
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What's in a glass of IP31 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 is over its legal limit, at 138% of it.
- Nitrite138%
- Nitrate69%
- Nickel14%
- Iron11%
- Trihalomethanes10%
- Fluoride9%
- Bromate7%
- Aluminium6%
- Manganese6%
- Mercury6%
- Turbidity5%
- Boron4%
- Arsenic3%
- Selenium2%
- Antimony2%
- Lead2%
- Chromium2%
- Copper2%
- Cadmium<1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 714 µS/cm
All 22 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrite | 0.69 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 138% |
| Aluminium | 0.012 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Iron | 0.021 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 11% |
| Manganese | 0.003 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 6% |
| Copper | 0.03 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 2% |
| Arsenic | 0.00028 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 3% |
| Cadmium | 0.00002 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Chromium | 0.00076 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| Nickel | 0.00281 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 14% |
| Lead | 0.00016 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Antimony | 0.0001 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Selenium | 0.00095 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Fluoride | 0.13 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 9% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Turbidity | 0.21 NTU | 4 NTU | 5% |
| Mercury | 0.00006 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 6% |
| Conductivity | 714 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Boron | 0.04 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 4% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0102 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 10% |
| Bromate | 0.0007 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 7% |
| Nitrate | 34.7 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 69% |
425mg 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 IP31
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Your river is the Sapiston River, rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Sapiston River as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. 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. 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
IP31 in short
Tap water in IP31 (West Suffolk) is supplied by Anglian Water in the West Suffolk Central zone and scores 8.8 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 22 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 23 December 2024.
- Nitrite was measured at 0.69 mg/L, 38% over the UK limitIt is the only one of 22 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- The lowest score of the 7 areas tested in West SuffolkIP31 scores 8.8 out of 10. The best in West Suffolk, IP27, scores 9.4.
- Among the hardest water in the country at 425 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in IP31. How hardness is measured
Questions about IP31 water
Is IP31 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, IP31 (West Suffolk) water scores 8.8/10, which is safe. 1 of 22 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Anglian Water.
What contaminants are in IP31 water?
We tested 22 contaminants in IP31 water. 1 were flagged, including Nitrite.
Who supplies water in IP31?
IP31 (West Suffolk) is supplied by Anglian Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is IP31 water hard or soft?
Water in IP31 (West Suffolk) has a hardness of 425 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 IP31?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in IP31, a water filter could help. A filter jug or under-sink filter can reduce most common contaminants. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in IP31 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for IP31, 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 IP31?
The Environment Agency rated the Sapiston River as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. 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. Its ecological rating has dropped since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in IP31, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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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
- 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
Nitrate levelsHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near IP31
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 IP31.