Tap water in SG19, Central Bedfordshire3 results are over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Thames Water. 9 substances, latest on 19 October 2026. Ammonia, Nitrite and Iron came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
1.9 / 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 319 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.
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis
£550typical price
Maximum contaminant removal including PFAS and fluoride
Waterdrop 10UA Under Sink
£70typical price
High-volume under-sink filtration without RO complexity
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What's in a glass of SG19 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.
Iron is over its legal limit, at 500% of it.
- Iron500%
- Ammonia260%
- Nitrite114%
- Nitrate32%
- pH 7.16 pH
- Temperature 11.2 °C
- Conductivity 735 µS/cm
- Dissolved Oxygen 7.13 mg/L
- Phosphate 0.09 mg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | 1.3 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 260% |
| Nitrite | 0.57 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 114% |
| Iron | 1 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 500% |
| pH | 7.16 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 11.2 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 735 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 7.13 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 16 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 32% |
| Phosphate | 0.09 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
319mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the SG area. SG19 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 SG19
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Your river is the Millbridge and Potton Brooks, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Millbridge and Potton Brooks as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by insects and other small river life, dissolved oxygen 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
SG19 in short
Tap water in SG19 (Central Bedfordshire) is supplied by Thames Water in the Central Bedfordshire Central zone and scores 1.9 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 3 of 9 tested substances were close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 19 October 2026.
- Iron was measured at 1 mg/L, 5 times the UK limitIt is the furthest over its limit of the 3 substances flagged here. See the full results
- The lowest score of the 9 areas tested in Central BedfordshireSG19 scores 1.9 out of 10. The best in Central Bedfordshire, SG15, scores 8.8.
- Among the hardest water in the country at 319 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase across the SG postcode area. How hardness is measured
Questions about SG19 water
Is SG19 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, SG19 (Central Bedfordshire) water scores 1.9/10, which is below average and may need attention. 3 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Thames Water.
What contaminants are in SG19 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in SG19 water. 3 were flagged, including Ammonia, Nitrite, Iron.
Who supplies water in SG19?
SG19 (Central Bedfordshire) is supplied by Thames Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is SG19 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for SG19 itself. Across the SG postcode area the typical value is 319 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 SG19?
With 3 contaminants above recommended levels in SG19, 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 SG19 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for SG19, 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 SG19?
The Environment Agency rated the Millbridge and Potton Brooks as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by insects and other small river life, dissolved oxygen 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 SG19, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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