Tap water in ST1, Stoke-on-TrentSafe to drink.
Supplied by Severn Trent. 628 samples, 20 substances, latest on 22 December 2025. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
9.4 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
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 ST1 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.
Nitrate came closest to a limit, at 24% of it. 17 of 17 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nitrate24%
- Trihalomethanes22%
- Nickel12%
- Aluminium11%
- Fluoride5%
- Colour4%
- Iron4%
- Turbidity3%
- Arsenic2%
- Antimony2%
- Manganese1%
- Lead1%
- Cadmium1%
- Nitrite1%
- Copper<1%
- Chromium<1%
- Selenium<1%
- Conductivity 282 µS/cm
- pH 7.45 pH
- Phosphate 0.919 mg/L
All 20 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 0.00073 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Colour | 0.8 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 4% |
| Nitrate | 12.2 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 24% |
| Copper | 0.0171 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Nitrite | 0.005 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 1% |
| Fluoride | 0.08 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 5% |
| Arsenic | 0.00023 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Turbidity | 0.12 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Cadmium | 0.00006 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 1% |
| Chromium | 0.00042 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.0023 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 12% |
| Lead | 0.00014 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 1% |
| Antimony | 0.000076 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Selenium | 0.00019 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | <1% |
| Aluminium | 0.021 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 11% |
| Iron | 0.0074 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Conductivity | 282 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| pH | 7.45 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0224 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 22% |
| Phosphate | 0.919 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
Your river is the Fowlea Brook from Source to River Trent, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Fowlea Brook from Source to River Trent 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 and specific pollutants. 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 4 sites. The highest was PFOA at 0.028 µg/L, at RSN0342 Lyme Brook, 4.4 km away, in February 2024. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Stoke-on-Trent · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
ST1 in short
Tap water in ST1 (Stoke-on-Trent) is supplied by Severn Trent in the Stoke-on-Trent Central zone and scores 9.4 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 20 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 22 December 2025.
- The cleanest tap water of the 5 areas tested in Stoke-on-TrentST1 scores 9.4 out of 10, ahead of ST3 in second place on 9.4. Every area in Stoke-on-Trent
- PFAS found at 4 monitoring sites within 10 kmThose are river and groundwater samples, not tap water. The highest was PFOA about 4.4 km away. What was measured
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Nitrate at 24% of the 50 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about ST1 water
Is ST1 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, ST1 (Stoke-on-Trent) water scores 9.4/10, which is safe. 0 of 20 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Severn Trent.
What contaminants are in ST1 water?
We tested 20 contaminants in ST1 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 ST1?
ST1 (Stoke-on-Trent) is supplied by Severn Trent. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Should I use a water filter in ST1?
ST1 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 ST1 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for ST1 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 49 river and groundwater samples from 4 sites within 10 km of ST1, the highest being PFOA at 0.028 µg/L about 4.4 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 ST1?
The Environment Agency rated the Fowlea Brook from Source to River Trent 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 and specific pollutants. 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 ST1, 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 Stoke-on-TrentUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near ST1
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | 0.22 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| pH | 7.98 pH | None |
| Temperature | 11.7 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 809 µS/cm | None |
| Nitrate | 1.3 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.017 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.033 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 10.6 mg/L | None |
| Ammonia | 0.097 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Cadmium | 0.0001 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.00157 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.00852 mg/L | None |
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for ST1.