Tap water in TA16, SomersetToo few tap tests to call it.Slightly hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 10 substances, latest on 8 October 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near TA16, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
6.6 / 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 TA16 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.
Ammonia came closest to a limit, at 48% of it. 2 of 3 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Ammonia48%
- Nitrate16%
- Nitrite1%
- pH 7.97 pH
- Temperature 12 °C
- Conductivity 944 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.34 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 8.86 mg/L
- Zinc 0.0154 mg/L
All 10 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.97 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 12 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 944 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 7.9 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 16% |
| Nitrite | 0.0056 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 1% |
| Phosphate | 0.34 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 8.86 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.24 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 48% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 339 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Zinc | 0.0154 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
172mg of limescale minerals in every litre
Middling hardness. Some scale, slowly
Below the point where a softener pays for itself. Descaling the kettle now and then is all most homes need.
Your river is the Merriot Stream, rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Merriot Stream as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by fish. 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
TA16 in short
Tap water in TA16 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Somerset Central zone and scores 6.6 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 10 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 8 October 2026.
- 38th cleanest of 40 areas tested in Somerset2 areas in Somerset scored lower. The best is TA21 on 9.6.
- Every one of the 10 neighbouring districts scores higherBA11 next door scores 9.2, against 6.6 here. Supply zones, not distance, explain the gap. See BA11
- Ammonia is the reading closest to its limit, at 48% of the 0.5 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
Questions about TA16 water
Is TA16 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, TA16 (Somerset) water scores 6.6/10, which is mostly safe but has some issues. 0 of 10 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in TA16 water?
We tested 10 contaminants in TA16 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in TA16?
TA16 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is TA16 water hard or soft?
Water in TA16 (Somerset) has a hardness of 172 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately hard. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in TA16?
TA16 water scored 6.6/10 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 TA16 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for TA16, 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 TA16?
The Environment Agency rated the Merriot Stream as poor for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is badly affected, with much of the expected wildlife missing. It is held back by fish. 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 TA16, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
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- How to Test Your Tap WaterFrom DIY strips to professional lab analysis
- Best Water Filter Jug UKBRITA vs ZeroWater vs the rest, tested against real data
How to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
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