Tap water in NR33, East SuffolkToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Anglian Water. 15 substances, latest on 18 March 2025. These are river and groundwater samples near NR33, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
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
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 348 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 NR33 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 32% of it. 8 of 9 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate32%
- Ammonia11%
- Fluoride7%
- Nickel5%
- Nitrite3%
- Chromium1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Lead<1%
- Copper<1%
- Temperature 10.1 °C
- Conductivity 1390 µS/cm
- pH 6.98 pH
- Dissolved Oxygen 8.23 mg/L
- Phosphate 0.031 mg/L
- Zinc 0.0051 mg/L
All 15 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 10.1 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 1390 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| pH | 6.98 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 8.23 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 16 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 32% |
| Ammonia | 0.056 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 11% |
| Nitrite | 0.014 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 3% |
| Phosphate | 0.031 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Cadmium | 0.000027 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Fluoride | 0.11 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 7% |
| Lead | 0.00002 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.0051 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Chromium | 0.0006 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Nickel | 0.00097 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.0011 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
348mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the NR area. NR33 has no reading of its own.
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 NR33
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Your river is the Waveney (Ellingham Mill - Burgh St. Peter), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Waveney (Ellingham Mill - Burgh St. Peter) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by temperature. 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
NR33 in short
Tap water in NR33 (East Suffolk) is supplied by Anglian Water in the East Suffolk Central zone and scores 9.4 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 15 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 18 March 2025.
- The cleanest tap water of the 13 areas tested in East SuffolkNR33 scores 9.4 out of 10, ahead of IP16 in second place on 9.3.
- Among the hardest water in the country at 348 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase across the NR postcode area. How hardness is measured
- Scores higher than all 9 neighbouring districtsThe nearest rival is IP17 on 9.3, against 9.4 here. Compare with IP17
Questions about NR33 water
Is NR33 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, NR33 (East Suffolk) water scores 9.4/10, which is safe. 0 of 15 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Anglian Water.
What contaminants are in NR33 water?
We tested 15 contaminants in NR33 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in NR33?
NR33 (East Suffolk) is supplied by Anglian Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is NR33 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for NR33 itself. Across the NR postcode area the typical value is 348 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 NR33?
NR33 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 NR33 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for NR33, 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 NR33?
The Environment Agency rated the Waveney (Ellingham Mill - Burgh St. Peter) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by temperature. 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 NR33, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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