Tap water in TN18, Tunbridge WellsToo few tap tests to call it.Slightly hard.
Supplied by South East Water. 10 substances, latest on 14 May 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near TN18, 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
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Basic chlorine and taste improvement on a budget
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What's in a glass of TN18 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 10% of it. 4 of 4 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Ammonia10%
- Nitrate10%
- Nitrite4%
- Copper<1%
- pH 7.7 pH
- Temperature 9.9 °C
- Conductivity 394 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.15 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 10.8 mg/L
- Zinc 0.00994 mg/L
All 10 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.7 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 9.9 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 394 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.051 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 10% |
| Nitrate | 4.8 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 10% |
| Nitrite | 0.019 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 4% |
| Phosphate | 0.15 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 10.8 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Copper | 0.00182 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.00994 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
129mg 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 Kent Ditch, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Kent Ditch as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by dissolved oxygen and phosphate. 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
TN18 in short
Tap water in TN18 (Tunbridge Wells) is supplied by South East Water in the Tunbridge Wells Central zone and scores 9.4 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 14 May 2026.
- The cleanest tap water of the 6 areas tested in Tunbridge WellsTN18 scores 9.4 out of 10, ahead of TN2 in second place on 8.9.
- Scores higher than all 5 neighbouring districtsThe nearest rival is TN2 on 8.9, against 9.4 here. Compare with TN2
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Ammonia at 10% of the 0.5 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about TN18 water
Is TN18 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, TN18 (Tunbridge Wells) water scores 9.4/10, which is safe. 0 of 10 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by South East Water.
What contaminants are in TN18 water?
We tested 10 contaminants in TN18 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in TN18?
TN18 (Tunbridge Wells) is supplied by South East Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is TN18 water hard or soft?
Water in TN18 (Tunbridge Wells) has a hardness of 129 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately hard. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in TN18?
TN18 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 TN18 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for TN18, 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 TN18?
The Environment Agency rated the Kent Ditch as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by dissolved oxygen and phosphate. 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in TN18, which is treated before it reaches homes.
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