Tap water in SP7, DorsetTurbidity is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 9 substances, latest on 16 January 2013. Turbidity came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
8.0 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
What to do about it
Osmio PRO-III Ultimate Whole House
£499typical price
Removes turbidity, the result that stood out in SP7.
Stop the limescale
At 307 mg/L a softener is the only thing that stops limescale. Filters do not soften water.
BWT E1 Single Lever
£250typical price
Removes turbidity, the result that stood out in SP7.
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What's in a glass of SP7 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.
Turbidity is over its legal limit, at 40000% of it.
- Turbidity40000%
- Nitrate12%
- Ammonia7%
- Nitrite2%
- pH 8.11 pH
- Temperature 5.3 °C
- Conductivity 534 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.185 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 12.4 mg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 1600 NTU | 4 NTU | 40000% |
| pH | 8.11 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 5.3 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 534 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 6.07 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 12% |
| Nitrite | 0.0083 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 2% |
| Phosphate | 0.185 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 12.4 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.037 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 7% |
307mg of limescale minerals in every litre
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 SP7
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Your river is the Stirchell Brook, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Stirchell 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 phosphate 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
SP7 in short
Tap water in SP7 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Dorset Central zone and scores 8.0 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 9 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 16 January 2013.
- The newest sample here is from January 2013That is over 13 years old, so treat this page as a record of past results rather than today's tap water.
- Turbidity was measured at 1,600 NTU, 400 times the UK limitIt is the only one of 9 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- Among the hardest water in the country at 307 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in SP7. How hardness is measured
Questions about SP7 water
Is SP7 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, SP7 (Dorset) water scores 8/10, which is safe. 1 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in SP7 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in SP7 water. 1 were flagged, including Turbidity.
Who supplies water in SP7?
SP7 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is SP7 water hard or soft?
Water in SP7 (Dorset) has a hardness of 307 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 SP7?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in SP7, 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 SP7 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for SP7, 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 SP7?
The Environment Agency rated the Stirchell 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 phosphate 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 SP7, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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