Tap water in PO17, FarehamSafe to drink.
Supplied by Southern Water. 192 samples, 13 substances, latest on 2 April 2026. Everything is inside the legal limit. One result, nitrate, sits close to the line.
8.8 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
What to do about it
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis
£550typical price
Removes nitrate, the result that stood out in PO17.
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes nitrate, the result that stood out in PO17.
ZeroWater 12-Cup Ready-Pour
£40typical price
Removes nitrate, the result that stood out in PO17.
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What's in a glass of PO17 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 84% of it. 8 of 9 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate84%
- Colour15%
- Trihalomethanes11%
- Aluminium6%
- Bromate5%
- Iron5%
- Manganese4%
- Turbidity3%
- Lead<1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- pH 7.4 pH
- Conductivity 543 µS/cm
All 13 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 41.8 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 84% |
| Iron | 0.00928 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 5% |
| Manganese | 0.00178 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 4% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Colour | 3 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 15% |
| Turbidity | 0.13 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| pH | 7.4 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.0113 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Lead | 0.00009 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Conductivity | 543 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.011 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 11% |
| Bromate | 0.00048 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 5% |
Your river is the Meon, rated good
The Environment Agency rated the Meon 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.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
32
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 2 sites. The highest was PFOS at 0.004 µg/L, at Priors Hold Farm, Wallington, 2.2 km away, in July 2023. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Portsmouth · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
PO17 in short
Tap water in PO17 (Fareham) is supplied by Southern Water in the Fareham Central zone and scores 8.8 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 13 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 2 April 2026.
- Nitrate is within its legal limit but flagged, at 84% of the 50 mg/L maximumAnything over three quarters of a limit is flagged here as worth watching. It has not gone over. See every reading
- 3rd cleanest of 4 areas tested in Fareham1 area in Fareham scored lower. The best is SO31 on 9.3.
- PFAS found at 2 monitoring sites within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was PFOS about 2.2 km away. What was measured
Questions about PO17 water
Is PO17 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, PO17 (Fareham) water scores 8.8/10, which is safe. 1 of 13 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Southern Water.
What contaminants are in PO17 water?
We tested 13 contaminants in PO17 water. 1 were flagged, including Nitrate. 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 PO17?
PO17 (Fareham) is supplied by Southern Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Should I use a water filter in PO17?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in PO17, 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 PO17 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for PO17 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 32 river and groundwater samples from 2 sites within 10 km of PO17, the highest being PFOS at 0.004 µg/L about 2.2 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 PO17?
The Environment Agency rated the Meon 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. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in PO17, 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 Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
PFAS explainedNitrate levelsHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near PO17
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 |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.54 pH | None |
| Temperature | 14.7 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 646 µS/cm | None |
| Nitrate | 5.9 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.053 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 7.7 mg/L | None |
| Ammonia | 0.039 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.0042 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 287 mg/L | None |
| Fluoride | 0.435 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L |
| Boron | 0.114 mg/L | 1 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.0373 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.0661 mg/L | None |
| Nickel | 0.00236 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for PO17.