Tap water in TA20, SomersetToo few tap tests to call it.Very hard.
Supplied by Wessex Water. 8 substances, latest on 3 March 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near TA20, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
9.4 / 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 279 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.
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
We earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we put first. How we make money
What's in a glass of TA20 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 9% of it. 3 of 3 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Ammonia9%
- Nitrate7%
- Nitrite3%
- pH 7.98 pH
- Temperature 9.9 °C
- Conductivity 404 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.1 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 10.6 mg/L
All 8 results as a table
279mg 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 TA20
Leave your details and we will email you when we can match you with installers who cover TA20. No obligation.
Request a free assessment and we'll come back to you with local installer options for your area.
100%
free, no obligation
shared only with your consent
Your river is the Isle - Upper, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Isle - 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 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
TA20 in short
Tap water in TA20 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water in the Somerset Central zone and scores 9.4 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 8 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 3 March 2026.
- 5th cleanest of 40 areas tested in SomersetOnly 4 areas in Somerset scored higher. The best is TA21 on 9.6.
- Very hard water at 279 mg/LThe threshold for very hard is 250 mg/L. Expect visible limescale on taps and in kettles in TA20. How hardness is measured
- Scores higher than all 10 neighbouring districtsThe nearest rival is BA11 on 9.2, against 9.4 here. Compare with BA11
Questions about TA20 water
Is TA20 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, TA20 (Somerset) water scores 9.4/10, which is safe. 0 of 8 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Wessex Water.
What contaminants are in TA20 water?
We tested 8 contaminants in TA20 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in TA20?
TA20 (Somerset) is supplied by Wessex Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is TA20 water hard or soft?
Water in TA20 (Somerset) has a hardness of 279 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 TA20?
TA20 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 TA20 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for TA20, 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 TA20?
The Environment Agency rated the Isle - 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 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 TA20, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- Best Water Softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared, with real costs
- Do I Need a Water Softener?The hardness bands, the symptoms, and a postcode check
- UK Water Hardness MapIs your water hard or soft, and does it matter?
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- Do I need a water softener?The hardness bands, the symptoms, and when the answer is no
- Best water softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared
- Water softener costUnit, fitting and salt, and how long the payback takes
- Installation explainedWhere it goes, the bypass tap, the drain, DIY or plumber
- Harvey vs KineticoThe two premium twin-cylinder brands, side by side
- Softener salt guideTablet, block or granular, and how much you get through
- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
Boiling water taps and hard waterHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for TA20.