Tap water in M19, ManchesterSafe to drink.Soft.
Supplied by United Utilities. 2,560 samples, 16 substances, latest on 31 December 2024. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.4 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
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
BRITA Marella XL + MAXTRA PRO
£25typical price
Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget
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What's in a glass of M19 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.
Trihalomethanes came closest to a limit, at 30% of it. 15 of 16 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Trihalomethanes30%
- Ammonia11%
- Lead10%
- Antimony6%
- Bromate5%
- Turbidity5%
- Aluminium4%
- Nitrate4%
- Nickel4%
- Iron3%
- Selenium2%
- Manganese2%
- Cadmium2%
- Chromium2%
- Nitrite2%
- Copper<1%
All 16 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 0.2 NTU | 4 NTU | 5% |
| Aluminium | 0.00899 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Iron | 0.007 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Manganese | 0.00092 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| Nitrate | 2.04 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 4% |
| Nitrite | 0.0075 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 2% |
| Ammonia | 0.054 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 11% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0303 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 30% |
| Bromate | 0.00053 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.0000131 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.00077 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 4% |
| Lead | 0.00103 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 10% |
| Cadmium | 0.00009 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Chromium | 0.00083 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| Antimony | 0.00031 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 6% |
| Selenium | 0.00085 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
30mg of limescale minerals in every litre
Soft water. Kind to kettles, boilers and skin
You will not need a softener here, and you will use less soap and detergent than most of England.
Your river is the Fallowfield Brook, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Fallowfield Brook as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by ammonia, organic pollution (bod) 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.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
167
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 13 sites. The highest was PFBA at 0.05 µg/L, at Holts Brewery Replacement Borehole SJ89/283, 7.0 km away, in January 2024. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Manchester · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
M19 in short
Tap water in M19 (Manchester) is supplied by United Utilities in the Manchester Central zone and scores 9.4 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 16 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 31 December 2024.
- Soft water at 30 mg/LLimescale is not a problem in M19, so skip softeners and scale filters entirely. How hardness is measured
- 8th cleanest of 17 areas tested in ManchesterSquarely mid-table for Manchester, between M22 on 9.5 and M40 on 9.3. Every area in Manchester
- PFAS found at 13 monitoring sites within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was PFBA about 7 km away. What was measured
Questions about M19 water
Is M19 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, M19 (Manchester) water scores 9.4/10, which is safe. 0 of 16 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by United Utilities.
What contaminants are in M19 water?
We tested 16 contaminants in M19 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels. 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 M19?
M19 (Manchester) is supplied by United Utilities. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is M19 water hard or soft?
Water in M19 (Manchester) has a hardness of 30 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as soft. Soft water is gentle on appliances and skin.
Should I use a water filter in M19?
M19 water scored 9.4/10 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 M19 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for M19 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 167 river and groundwater samples from 13 sites within 10 km of M19, the highest being PFBA at 0.05 µg/L about 7 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 M19?
The Environment Agency rated the Fallowfield Brook as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by ammonia, organic pollution (bod) 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. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in M19, 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
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of ManchesterUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near M19
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.
| Substance | Reading | Drinking water limit |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.52 pH | None |
| Temperature | 15.1 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 308 µS/cm | None |
| Ammonia | 0.18 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 2.8 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.055 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.11 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.65 mg/L | None |
| Lead | 0.0003 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Cadmium | 0.000014 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.0061 mg/L | None |
| Nickel | 0.0022 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Arsenic | 0.0011 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Turbidity | 1.8 NTU | 4 NTU |
| Copper | 0.0024 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Manganese | 0.029 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Iron | 0.13 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
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