Tap water in RH15, Mid SussexSafe to drink.Slightly hard.
Supplied by Southern Water. 13 samples, 6 substances, latest on 27 February 2025. 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
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 RH15 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 15% of it. 5 of 5 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Colour15%
- Iron6%
- Aluminium4%
- Manganese3%
- Turbidity3%
- pH 7.2 pH
148mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the RH area. RH15 has no reading of its own.
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 Herrings Stream, rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Herrings 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 water plants and algae 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
54
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 1 site. The highest was PFBS at 0.057 µg/L, at RSN0537 Adur East Churchill Way Burgesshill, under 1 km away, in July 2026. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Brighton · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
RH15 in short
Tap water in RH15 (Mid Sussex) is supplied by Southern Water in the Mid Sussex 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 27 February 2025.
- 2nd cleanest of 5 areas tested in Mid SussexOnly 1 area in Mid Sussex scored higher. The best is BN45 on 9.4.
- PFAS found at 1 monitoring site within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was PFBS about 0.9 km away. What was measured
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Colour at 15% of the 20 mg/L Pt/Co maximum. See every reading
Questions about RH15 water
Is RH15 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, RH15 (Mid Sussex) 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 RH15 water?
We tested 6 contaminants in RH15 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 RH15?
RH15 (Mid Sussex) is supplied by Southern Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is RH15 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for RH15 itself. Across the RH postcode area the typical value is 148 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately hard. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in RH15?
RH15 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 RH15 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for RH15 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 54 river and groundwater samples from 1 sites within 10 km of RH15, the highest being PFBS at 0.057 µg/L about 0.9 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 RH15?
The Environment Agency rated the Herrings 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 water plants and algae 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 RH15, 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 RH15
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 RH15.