Tap water in PO18, ChichesterSafe to drink.
Supplied by Southern Water. 3,280 samples, 22 substances, latest on 23 April 2026. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.5 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
What to do about it
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
BRITA Marella XL + MAXTRA PRO
£25typical price
Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget
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What's in a glass of PO18 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 52% of it. 17 of 18 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate52%
- Colour15%
- Trihalomethanes6%
- Aluminium6%
- Copper5%
- Iron5%
- Ammonia4%
- Manganese4%
- Turbidity3%
- Nickel3%
- Nitrite2%
- Selenium2%
- Arsenic2%
- Bromate1%
- Lead<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Antimony<1%
- Chromium<1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 428 µS/cm
- pH 7.5 pH
All 22 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 26.2 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 52% |
| Iron | 0.00928 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 5% |
| Lead | 0.00009 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Conductivity | 428 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Cadmium | 0.000031 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Chromium | 0.00019 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.00057 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 3% |
| Antimony | 0.000029 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Selenium | 0.00068 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.00644 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 6% |
| Bromate | 0.00013 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Colour | 3 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 15% |
| Turbidity | 0.13 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| pH | 7.5 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrite | 0.009 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 2% |
| Aluminium | 0.0113 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Manganese | 0.00178 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 4% |
| Copper | 0.0945 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 5% |
| Arsenic | 0.00017 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Ammonia | 0.02 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 4% |
Your river is the Bosham Stream, rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Bosham Stream 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 fish. 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
PO18 in short
Tap water in PO18 (Chichester) is supplied by Southern Water in the Chichester Central zone and scores 9.5 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 22 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 23 April 2026.
- Nitrate is the reading closest to its limit, at 52% of the 50 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- 2nd cleanest of 8 areas tested in ChichesterOnly 1 area in Chichester scored higher. The best is GU29 on 9.5.
- Scores higher than 6 of 7 neighbouring districtsWater here is typical for the immediate area, which usually means the same treatment works and the same supply zone.
Questions about PO18 water
Is PO18 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, PO18 (Chichester) water scores 9.5/10, which is safe. 0 of 22 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Southern Water.
What contaminants are in PO18 water?
We tested 22 contaminants in PO18 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in PO18?
PO18 (Chichester) 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 PO18?
PO18 water scored 9.5/10 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 PO18 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for PO18, 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 PO18?
The Environment Agency rated the Bosham Stream 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 fish. 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 PO18, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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River and groundwater readings near PO18
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 PO18.