Tap water in NE44, NorthumberlandSafe to drink.Hard.
Supplied by Northumbrian Water. 1,044 samples, 20 substances, latest on 6 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.7 / 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 193 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 NE44 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.
Aluminium came closest to a limit, at 13% of it. 18 of 18 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Aluminium13%
- Colour10%
- Turbidity5%
- Bromate5%
- Iron5%
- Nickel4%
- Antimony3%
- Nitrate3%
- Fluoride3%
- Selenium2%
- Arsenic2%
- Boron2%
- Chromium1%
- Manganese1%
- Nitrite1%
- Lead<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Copper<1%
- pH 7.7 pH
- Conductivity 260 µS/cm
All 20 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.7 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.025 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 13% |
| Manganese | 0.00063 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Conductivity | 260 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Turbidity | 0.2 NTU | 4 NTU | 5% |
| Iron | 0.01 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 5% |
| Colour | 2 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 10% |
| Bromate | 0.0005 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 5% |
| Nickel | 0.00076 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 4% |
| Nitrite | 0.0061 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 1% |
| Boron | 0.015 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 2% |
| Antimony | 0.00016 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 3% |
| Cadmium | 0.000018 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Arsenic | 0.00018 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Chromium | 0.00067 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Fluoride | 0.038 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 3% |
| Copper | 0.0042 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Lead | 0.000065 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Selenium | 0.00083 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Nitrate | 1.5 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 3% |
193mg of limescale minerals in every litre
This is the water that furs up kettles
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 NE44
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Your river is the March Burn Catchment (trib of Tyne), rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the March Burn Catchment (trib of Tyne) 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 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.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
NE44 in short
Tap water in NE44 (Northumberland) is supplied by Northumbrian Water in the Northumberland Central zone and scores 9.7 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 6 December 2025.
- 4th cleanest of 28 areas tested in NorthumberlandOnly 3 areas in Northumberland scored higher. The best is NE41 on 9.8.
- Hard water at 193 mg/LHard starts at 180 mg/L, the point where a softener begins to pay for itself. Limescale will build up in NE44. How hardness is measured
- 0.7 points above the national average of 9Cleaner than the typical tested district in the UK. Compare every area
Questions about NE44 water
Is NE44 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, NE44 (Northumberland) water scores 9.7/10, which is safe. 0 of 20 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Northumbrian Water.
What contaminants are in NE44 water?
We tested 20 contaminants in NE44 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in NE44?
NE44 (Northumberland) is supplied by Northumbrian Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is NE44 water hard or soft?
Water in NE44 (Northumberland) has a hardness of 193 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 NE44?
NE44 water scored 9.7/10 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 NE44 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for NE44, 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 NE44?
The Environment Agency rated the March Burn Catchment (trib of Tyne) 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 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. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in NE44, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- 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?
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- 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
How to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near NE44
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | 0.42 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| Lead | 0.0032 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| pH | 7.9 pH | None |
| Temperature | 14.7 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 220 µS/cm | None |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 80.1 mg/L | None |
| Zinc | 0.018 mg/L | None |
| Nickel | 0.0012 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.0012 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Manganese | 0.022 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Ammonia | 0.019 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 0.36 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.0086 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
Get alerts for your area
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