Tap water in SP8, DorsetAluminium is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 10 substances, latest on 16 October 2026. Aluminium came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
7.6 / 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 275 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 SP8 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.
Aluminium is over its legal limit, at 400% of it.
- Aluminium400%
- Iron27%
- Nitrate15%
- Nitrite9%
- Ammonia8%
- pH 8.06 pH
- Temperature 13.7 °C
- Conductivity 619 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.18 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 8.63 mg/L
All 10 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | 0.8 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 400% |
| pH | 8.06 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 13.7 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 619 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.041 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 8% |
| Nitrate | 7.4 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 15% |
| Nitrite | 0.043 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 9% |
| Phosphate | 0.18 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 8.63 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Iron | 0.054 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 27% |
275mg 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 SP8
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Your river is the Stour (Upper), rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Stour (Upper) 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
SP8 in short
Tap water in SP8 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Dorset Central zone and scores 7.6 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 10 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 16 October 2026.
- Aluminium was measured at 0.8 mg/L, 4 times the UK limitIt is the only one of 10 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- 17th cleanest of 18 areas tested in Dorset1 area in Dorset scored lower. The best is DT1 on 9.7.
- Very hard water at 275 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in SP8. How hardness is measured
Questions about SP8 water
Is SP8 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, SP8 (Dorset) water scores 7.6/10, which is safe. 1 of 10 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in SP8 water?
We tested 10 contaminants in SP8 water. 1 were flagged, including Aluminium.
Who supplies water in SP8?
SP8 (Dorset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is SP8 water hard or soft?
Water in SP8 (Dorset) has a hardness of 275 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 SP8?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in SP8, 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 SP8 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for SP8, 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 SP8?
The Environment Agency rated the Stour (Upper) 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 SP8, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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