Tap water in S20, SheffieldToo few tap tests to call it.Moderately soft.
Supplied by Yorkshire Water. 8 samples, 2 substances, latest on 29 September 2025. Only 2 of them have a legal limit to judge against, so treat the score as provisional.
10.0 / 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 S20 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.
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- E. coli none found
All 2 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
88mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the S area. S20 has no reading of its own.
Soft water. Kind to kettles, boilers and skin
You will not need a softener here, and you will use less soap and detergent than most of England.
Your river is the Rother, Doe Lea to Don, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Rother, Doe Lea to Don as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by phosphate and insects and other small river life. 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
49
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 3 sites. The highest was PFOS (linear) at 0.012 µg/L, at Don at Halfpenny Bridge Templeborough, 9.8 km away, in December 2023. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Sheffield · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
S20 in short
Tap water in S20 (Sheffield) is supplied by Yorkshire Water in the Sheffield Central zone and scores 10.0 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 2 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 29 September 2025.
- The cleanest tap water of the 17 areas tested in SheffieldS20 scores 10 out of 10, ahead of S35 in second place on 9.7. Every area in Sheffield
- Scores higher than all 10 neighbouring districtsThe nearest rival is S7 on 9.7, against 10 here. Compare with S7
- 1 point above the national average of 9Cleaner than the typical tested district in the UK. Compare every area
Questions about S20 water
Is S20 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, S20 (Sheffield) water scores 10/10, which is safe. 0 of 2 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Yorkshire Water.
What contaminants are in S20 water?
We tested 2 contaminants in S20 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 S20?
S20 (Sheffield) is supplied by Yorkshire Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is S20 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for S20 itself. Across the S postcode area the typical value is 88 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately soft. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in S20?
S20 water scored 10/10 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 S20 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for S20 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 49 river and groundwater samples from 3 sites within 10 km of S20, the highest being PFOS (linear) at 0.012 µg/L about 9.8 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 S20?
The Environment Agency rated the Rother, Doe Lea to Don as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by phosphate and insects and other small river life. 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 S20, 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 kitsAll of SheffieldUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near S20
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 | 7.71 pH | None |
| Temperature | 15.2 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 1887 µS/cm | None |
| Ammonia | 0.05 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 0.44 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.0072 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 9.63 mg/L | None |
| Phosphate | 0.014 mg/L | None |
| Copper | 0.0034 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.0208 mg/L | None |
| Iron | 0.09 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 235 mg/L | None |
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for S20.