Tap water in RG23, Basingstoke and DeaneSafe to drink.Very hard.
Supplied by Southern Water. 13 samples, 6 substances, latest on 6 May 2022. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.4 / 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 295 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 RG23 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.
Colour came closest to a limit, at 14% of it. 5 of 5 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Colour14%
- Aluminium7%
- Turbidity4%
- Iron3%
- Manganese2%
- pH 7.25 pH
295mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the RG area. RG23 has no reading of its own.
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 RG23
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Your river is the Loddon (Basingstoke to River Lyde confluence at Hartley Wespall), rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Loddon (Basingstoke to River Lyde confluence at Hartley Wespall) 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 and water plants and algae. 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
RG23 in short
Tap water in RG23 (Basingstoke and Deane) is supplied by Southern Water in the Basingstoke and Deane Central zone and scores 9.4 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 6 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 6 May 2022.
- The newest sample here is from May 2022That is over 4 years old, so treat this page as a record of past results rather than today's tap water.
- The cleanest tap water of the 7 areas tested in Basingstoke and DeaneRG23 scores 9.4 out of 10, ahead of RG25 in second place on 9.4.
- Very hard water at 295 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles across the RG postcode area. How hardness is measured
Questions about RG23 water
Is RG23 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, RG23 (Basingstoke and Deane) water scores 9.4/10, which is safe. 0 of 6 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Southern Water.
What contaminants are in RG23 water?
We tested 6 contaminants in RG23 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in RG23?
RG23 (Basingstoke and Deane) is supplied by Southern Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is RG23 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for RG23 itself. Across the RG postcode area the typical value is 295 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as very hard. Hard water can cause limescale buildup. A water softener or filter jug may help.
Should I use a water filter in RG23?
RG23 water scored 9.4/10 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 RG23 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for RG23, 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 RG23?
The Environment Agency rated the Loddon (Basingstoke to River Lyde confluence at Hartley Wespall) 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 and water plants and algae. 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 RG23, 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 kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near RG23
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 | 7.17 pH | None |
| Temperature | 11.8 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 623 µS/cm | None |
| Ammonia | 0.0071 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 10 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.0038 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.03 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.04 mg/L | None |
| Lead | 0.0021 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 267 mg/L | None |
| Copper | 0.0025 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.344 mg/L | None |
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for RG23.