Tap water in OX17, West NorthamptonshireSafe to drink.Very hard.
Supplied by Anglian Water. 221 samples, 10 substances, latest on 5 December 2024. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.1 / 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 240 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 OX17 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 40% of it. 6 of 7 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate40%
- Nickel11%
- Iron11%
- Nitrite6%
- Aluminium6%
- Manganese6%
- Turbidity5%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 572 µS/cm
All 10 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 0.21 NTU | 4 NTU | 5% |
| Nitrate | 20.2 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 40% |
| Nitrite | 0.03 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 6% |
| Aluminium | 0.012 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Iron | 0.021 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 11% |
| Manganese | 0.003 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 6% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Conductivity | 572 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nickel | 0.00212 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 11% |
240mg 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 OX17
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Your river is the Farthinghoe Stream (Source to Cherwell) and tributaries, rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Farthinghoe Stream (Source to Cherwell) and tributaries 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
OX17 in short
Tap water in OX17 (West Northamptonshire) is supplied by Anglian Water in the West Northamptonshire Central zone and scores 9.1 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 10 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 5 December 2024.
- 11th cleanest of 12 areas tested in Northampton1 area in Northampton scored lower. The best is NN11 on 9.4. Every area in Northampton
- Nitrate is the reading closest to its limit, at 40% of the 50 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- Hard water at 240 mg/LHard starts at 180 mg/L, the point where a softener begins to pay for itself. Limescale will build up in OX17. How hardness is measured
Questions about OX17 water
Is OX17 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, OX17 (West Northamptonshire) water scores 9.1/10, which is safe. 0 of 10 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Anglian Water.
What contaminants are in OX17 water?
We tested 10 contaminants in OX17 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in OX17?
OX17 (West Northamptonshire) is supplied by Anglian Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is OX17 water hard or soft?
Water in OX17 (West Northamptonshire) has a hardness of 240 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 OX17?
OX17 water scored 9.1/10 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 OX17 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for OX17, 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 OX17?
The Environment Agency rated the Farthinghoe Stream (Source to Cherwell) and tributaries 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 OX17, 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 kitsAll of NorthamptonUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near OX17
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 | 2 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| pH | 7.72 pH | None |
| Temperature | 18.4 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 637 µS/cm | None |
| Nitrate | 1.6 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.019 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.12 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 5.53 mg/L | None |
| Ammonia | 0.12 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Lead | 0.00001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Nickel | 0.0011 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 282 mg/L | None |
| Zinc | 0.0043 mg/L | None |
| Copper | 0.00012 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for OX17.