Tap water in OX5, Cherwell2 results are over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Thames Water. 74 samples, 23 substances, latest on 31 December 2025. Coliform Bacteria and E. coli came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
7.5 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Osmio Zero 2.0 Countertop RO
£495typical price
Removes coliform bacteria and e. coli, the results that stood out in OX5.
Stop the limescale
At 234 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes coliform bacteria and e. coli, the results that stood out in OX5.
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What's in a glass of OX5 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.
Nitrite came closest to a limit, at 70% of it. 17 of 19 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrite70%
- Nitrate35%
- Trihalomethanes20%
- Iron12%
- Bromate10%
- Lead9%
- Colour9%
- Cadmium8%
- Fluoride7%
- Mercury7%
- Arsenic7%
- Antimony6%
- Nickel6%
- Chromium5%
- Aluminium5%
- Manganese4%
- Boron4%
- Copper3%
- Selenium1%
- Coliform Bacteria 6 count/100ml found
- E. coli 3 count/100ml found
- Conductivity 507 µS/cm
All 23 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform Bacteria | 6 count/100ml | Must be zero | Found |
| E. coli | 3 count/100ml | Must be zero | Found |
| Colour | 1.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 9% |
| Conductivity | 507 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Fluoride | 0.11 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 7% |
| Nitrate | 17.7 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 35% |
| Nitrite | 0.35 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 70% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 234 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.0093 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 5% |
| Antimony | 0.0003 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 6% |
| Arsenic | 0.0007 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 7% |
| Boron | 0.04 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 4% |
| Cadmium | 0.0004 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 8% |
| Chromium | 0.0025 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.05 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 3% |
| Iron | 0.024 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 12% |
| Lead | 0.0009 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 9% |
| Manganese | 0.0021 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 4% |
| Mercury | 0.00007 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 7% |
| Nickel | 0.0011 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 6% |
| Selenium | 0.0004 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 1% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.02 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 20% |
| Bromate | 0.001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 10% |
234mg 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.
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Your river is the Cherwell (Bletchingdon to Ray), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Cherwell (Bletchingdon to Ray) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by fish, insects and other small river life 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
556
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 10 sites. The highest was PFBS at 0.069 µg/L, at Cherwell at Marston Road, Oxford, 8.8 km away, in September 2023. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Oxford · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
OX5 in short
Tap water in OX5 (Cherwell) is supplied by Thames Water in the Cherwell Central zone and scores 7.5 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 2 of 23 tested substances were close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 31 December 2025.
- Coliform Bacteria detected at 6 per 100 ml, where any amount fails the legal standardAny detection is a failure for this substance. It is one of 2 flagged here. See the full results
- The lowest score of the 6 areas tested in CherwellOX5 scores 7.5 out of 10. The best in Cherwell, OX25, scores 8.7.
- Hard water at 234 mg/LHard starts at 180 mg/L, the point where a softener begins to pay for itself. Limescale will build up in OX5. How hardness is measured
Questions about OX5 water
Is OX5 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, OX5 (Cherwell) water scores 7.5/10, which is safe. 2 of 23 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Thames Water.
What contaminants are in OX5 water?
We tested 23 contaminants in OX5 water. 2 were flagged, including Coliform Bacteria, E. coli. 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 OX5?
OX5 (Cherwell) is supplied by Thames Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is OX5 water hard or soft?
Water in OX5 (Cherwell) has a hardness of 234 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 OX5?
With 2 contaminants above recommended levels in OX5, a water filter could help. A reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter is recommended for PFAS removal. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in OX5 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for OX5 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 556 river and groundwater samples from 10 sites within 10 km of OX5, the highest being PFBS at 0.069 µg/L about 8.8 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 OX5?
The Environment Agency rated the Cherwell (Bletchingdon to Ray) as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by fish, insects and other small river life 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 OX5, 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?
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
- 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 explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near OX5
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 OX5.