Tap water in PO34, Isle of WightSafe to drink.
Supplied by Southern Water. 5,104 samples, 22 substances, latest on 9 April 2026. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.3 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
What to do about it

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What's in a glass of PO34 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.
Trihalomethanes came closest to a limit, at 54% of it. 16 of 18 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Trihalomethanes54%
- Nitrate34%
- Colour15%
- Nickel10%
- Bromate7%
- Aluminium6%
- Ammonia6%
- Iron5%
- Arsenic4%
- Manganese4%
- Turbidity3%
- Nitrite2%
- Antimony1%
- Selenium1%
- Lead<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Copper<1%
- Chromium<1%
- pH 7.9 pH
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 479 µS/cm
All 22 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 0.13 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| pH | 7.9 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 16.8 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 34% |
| Iron | 0.00928 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 5% |
| Manganese | 0.00178 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 4% |
| 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 | 479 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.0113 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Bromate | 0.0007 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 7% |
| Colour | 3 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 15% |
| Ammonia | 0.028 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 6% |
| Copper | 0.0108 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Nitrite | 0.009 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 2% |
| Arsenic | 0.00036 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 4% |
| Cadmium | 0.000031 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Chromium | 0.00019 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.00206 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 10% |
| Antimony | 0.000068 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 1% |
| Selenium | 0.00043 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 1% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0542 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 54% |
Your coastal water is the Solent, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Solent as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the coastal water is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by nitrogen and seagrass and saltmarsh. 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
9
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 1 site. The highest was 6:2 FTSA at 0.011 µg/L, at R Eastern Yar at Weed Grid St Helens, 2.5 km away, in February 2026. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Portsmouth · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
PO34 in short
Tap water in PO34 (Isle of Wight) is supplied by Southern Water in the Isle of Wight Central zone and scores 9.3 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 9 April 2026.
- Trihalomethanes is the reading closest to its limit, at 54% of the 0.1 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
- 3rd cleanest of 12 areas tested in Isle of WightOnly 2 areas in Isle of Wight scored higher. The best is PO31 on 9.3.
- PFAS found at 1 monitoring site within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was 6:2 FTSA about 2.5 km away. What was measured
Questions about PO34 water
Is PO34 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, PO34 (Isle of Wight) water scores 9.3/10, which is safe. 0 of 22 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Southern Water.
What contaminants are in PO34 water?
We tested 22 contaminants in PO34 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels. 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 PO34?
PO34 (Isle of Wight) 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 PO34?
PO34 water scored 9.3/10 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 PO34 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for PO34 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 9 river and groundwater samples from 1 sites within 10 km of PO34, the highest being 6:2 FTSA at 0.011 µg/L about 2.5 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 coastal water near PO34?
The Environment Agency rated the Solent as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the coastal water is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by nitrogen and seagrass and saltmarsh. 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 coastal water, not of tap water in PO34, 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
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near PO34
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 PO34.