Tap water in ME1, MedwaySafe to drink.
Supplied by Southern Water. 26,257 samples, 22 substances, latest on 30 April 2026. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.3 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
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 ME1 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 53% of it. 16 of 18 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate53%
- Trihalomethanes33%
- Colour15%
- Nickel11%
- Aluminium9%
- Ammonia8%
- Iron8%
- Antimony4%
- Manganese4%
- Turbidity3%
- Bromate2%
- Nitrite2%
- Arsenic2%
- Selenium1%
- Lead<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Chromium<1%
- Copper<1%
- Conductivity 600 µS/cm
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- pH 7.9 pH
All 22 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 0.13 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Iron | 0.0153 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 8% |
| Manganese | 0.00178 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 4% |
| Nitrate | 26.4 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 53% |
| Lead | 0.00009 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Conductivity | 600 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Colour | 3 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 15% |
| pH | 7.9 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Bromate | 0.0002 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Aluminium | 0.0174 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 9% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0328 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 33% |
| Ammonia | 0.039 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 8% |
| Copper | 0.0015 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Nitrite | 0.009 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 2% |
| Arsenic | 0.00018 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Cadmium | 0.000031 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Chromium | 0.00019 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.00223 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 11% |
| Antimony | 0.00019 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 4% |
| Selenium | 0.00043 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 1% |
Your estuary is the Medway, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Medway as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the estuary is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by nitrogen and seagrass and saltmarsh. 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
ME1 in short
Tap water in ME1 (Medway) is supplied by Southern Water in the Medway Central zone and scores 9.3 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 22 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 30 April 2026.
- Nitrate is the reading closest to its limit, at 53% of the 50 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- 3rd cleanest of 7 areas tested in MedwayOnly 2 areas in Medway scored higher. The best is ME8 on 9.5.
- Scores higher than 1 of 6 neighbouring districtsWater here is typical for the immediate area, which usually means the same treatment works and the same supply zone.
Questions about ME1 water
Is ME1 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, ME1 (Medway) water scores 9.3/10, which is safe. 0 of 22 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Southern Water.
What contaminants are in ME1 water?
We tested 22 contaminants in ME1 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in ME1?
ME1 (Medway) is supplied by Southern Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Should I use a water filter in ME1?
ME1 water scored 9.3/10 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 ME1 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for ME1, 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 estuary near ME1?
The Environment Agency rated the Medway as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the estuary is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by nitrogen and seagrass and saltmarsh. 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 estuary, not of tap water in ME1, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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River and groundwater readings near ME1
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 ME1.