Tap water in MK19, West NorthamptonshireSafe to drink.Very hard.
Supplied by Anglian Water. 577 samples, 20 substances, latest on 11 December 2024. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.2 / 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 243 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 MK19 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.
Iron came closest to a limit, at 45% of it. 15 of 17 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Iron45%
- Nitrate41%
- Fluoride18%
- Trihalomethanes17%
- Nitrite14%
- Nickel10%
- Bromate9%
- Turbidity8%
- Manganese6%
- Aluminium6%
- Antimony6%
- Arsenic3%
- Selenium2%
- Lead2%
- Chromium2%
- Copper2%
- Cadmium<1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 574 µS/cm
All 20 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 20.4 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 41% |
| Nitrite | 0.07 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 14% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Turbidity | 0.32 NTU | 4 NTU | 8% |
| Iron | 0.091 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 45% |
| Manganese | 0.003 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 6% |
| Aluminium | 0.012 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Copper | 0.03 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 2% |
| Fluoride | 0.27 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 18% |
| 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 | 0.00193 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 10% |
| Lead | 0.00016 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Antimony | 0.0003 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 6% |
| Selenium | 0.00072 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Conductivity | 574 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0169 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 17% |
| Bromate | 0.00094 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 9% |
243mg 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 MK19
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Your river is the Potterspury Brook, rated good
The Environment Agency rated the Potterspury Brook as good for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is only slightly changed from its natural state. 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 improved since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
11
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 1 site. The highest was 6:2 FTSA at 0.015 µg/L, at R.tove Cappenham Bridge, 9.4 km away, in July 2025. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Northampton · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
MK19 in short
Tap water in MK19 (West Northamptonshire) is supplied by Anglian Water in the West Northamptonshire Central zone and scores 9.2 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 20 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 11 December 2024.
- Iron is the reading closest to its limit, at 45% of the 0.2 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- Hard water at 243 mg/LHard starts at 180 mg/L, the point where a softener begins to pay for itself. Limescale will build up in MK19. How hardness is measured
- 8th cleanest of 12 areas tested in NorthamptonSquarely mid-table for Northampton, between NN11 on 9.4 and NN12 on 8.9. Every area in Northampton
Questions about MK19 water
Is MK19 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, MK19 (West Northamptonshire) water scores 9.2/10, which is safe. 0 of 20 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Anglian Water.
What contaminants are in MK19 water?
We tested 20 contaminants in MK19 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 MK19?
MK19 (West Northamptonshire) is supplied by Anglian Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is MK19 water hard or soft?
Water in MK19 (West Northamptonshire) has a hardness of 243 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as hard. Hard water can cause limescale buildup. A water softener or filter jug may help.
Should I use a water filter in MK19?
MK19 water scored 9.2/10 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 MK19 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for MK19 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 11 river and groundwater samples from 1 sites within 10 km of MK19, the highest being 6:2 FTSA at 0.015 µg/L about 9.4 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 MK19?
The Environment Agency rated the Potterspury Brook as good for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is only slightly changed from its natural state. 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 improved since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in MK19, 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
- Best Water Softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared, with real costs
- 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?
- Do I need a water softener?The hardness bands, the symptoms, and when the answer is no
- 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
PFAS explainedBoiling water taps and hard waterHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsAll of NorthamptonUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near MK19
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 MK19.