Tap water in RH1, Reigate and BansteadNickel is over the limit.Slightly hard.
Supplied by Thames Water. 74 samples, 23 substances, latest on 31 December 2025. Nickel came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
8.8 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it

Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis
£550typical price
Removes nickel, the result that stood out in RH1.

BRITA Marella XL + MAXTRA PRO
£25typical price
Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget

ZeroWater 12-Cup Ready-Pour
£40typical price
Households concerned about PFAS and heavy metals
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What's in a glass of RH1 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.
Nickel is over its legal limit, at 114% of it.
- Nickel114%
- Nitrite38%
- Trihalomethanes20%
- Nitrate19%
- Lead10%
- Bromate10%
- Fluoride10%
- Colour9%
- Iron9%
- Cadmium8%
- Mercury7%
- Arsenic7%
- Antimony6%
- Chromium5%
- Aluminium4%
- Copper3%
- Boron2%
- Manganese1%
- Selenium1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
- Conductivity 340 µS/cm
All 23 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel | 0.0228 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 114% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Colour | 1.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 9% |
| Conductivity | 340 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Fluoride | 0.15 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 10% |
| Nitrate | 9.3 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 19% |
| Nitrite | 0.19 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 38% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 141 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Aluminium | 0.0082 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Antimony | 0.0003 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 6% |
| Arsenic | 0.0007 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 7% |
| Boron | 0.02 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 2% |
| Cadmium | 0.0004 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 8% |
| Chromium | 0.0025 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 5% |
| Copper | 0.06 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 3% |
| Iron | 0.017 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 9% |
| Lead | 0.001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 10% |
| Manganese | 0.0006 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Mercury | 0.00007 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 7% |
| 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% |
141mg of limescale minerals in every litre
Middling hardness. Some scale, slowly
Below the point where a softener pays for itself. Descaling the kettle now and then is all most homes need.
Your river is the Redhill Brook, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Redhill Brook 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
RH1 in short
Tap water in RH1 (Reigate and Banstead) is supplied by Thames Water in the Reigate and Banstead Central zone and scores 8.8 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 23 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 31 December 2025.
- Nickel was measured at 0.023 mg/L, 14% over the UK limitIt is the only one of 23 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- 2nd cleanest of 5 areas tested in Reigate and BansteadOnly 1 area in Reigate and Banstead scored higher. The best is RH6 on 9.3.
- Moderately hard water at 141 mg/LSome scale over time in RH1, but not enough to justify a softener for most homes. How hardness is measured
Questions about RH1 water
Is RH1 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, RH1 (Reigate and Banstead) water scores 8.8/10, which is safe. 1 of 23 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Thames Water.
What contaminants are in RH1 water?
We tested 23 contaminants in RH1 water. 1 were flagged, including Nickel.
Who supplies water in RH1?
RH1 (Reigate and Banstead) is supplied by Thames Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is RH1 water hard or soft?
Water in RH1 (Reigate and Banstead) has a hardness of 141 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately hard. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in RH1?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in RH1, a water filter could help. A filter jug or under-sink filter can reduce most common contaminants. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in RH1 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for RH1, 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 RH1?
The Environment Agency rated the Redhill Brook 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 RH1, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
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- Best Water Filter Jug UKBRITA vs ZeroWater vs the rest, tested against real data
How to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near RH1
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 RH1.