Tap water in TN24, AshfordToo few tap tests to call it.Slightly hard.
Supplied by Southern Water. 13 substances, latest on 15 September 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near TN24, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
9.6 / 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
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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 TN24 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.
Nickel came closest to a limit, at 12% of it. 7 of 7 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Nickel12%
- Ammonia9%
- Nitrate7%
- Cadmium2%
- Nitrite<1%
- Copper<1%
- Lead<1%
- pH 7.76 pH
- Temperature 18 °C
- Conductivity 622 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.059 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 7.76 mg/L
- Zinc 0.0077 mg/L
All 13 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.76 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 18 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 622 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 3.7 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 7% |
| Nitrite | 0.0049 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | <1% |
| Phosphate | 0.059 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 7.76 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.044 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 9% |
| Cadmium | 0.00012 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Lead | 0.00001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Nickel | 0.0024 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 12% |
| Zinc | 0.0077 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Copper | 0.0043 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
150mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the TN area. TN24 has no reading of its own.
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 Great Stour between Ashford and Wye, rated poor
The Environment Agency rated the Great Stour between Ashford and Wye 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 water plants and algae, 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 dropped since the previous assessment.
None of this is a test of your tap water. Environment Agency record · River health across England
TN24 in short
Tap water in TN24 (Ashford) is supplied by Southern Water in the Ashford Central zone and scores 9.6 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 13 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 15 September 2026.
- 2nd cleanest of 6 areas tested in AshfordOnly 1 area in Ashford scored higher. The best is TN26 on 9.8.
- 0.6 points above the national average of 9Cleaner than the typical tested district in the UK. Compare every area
- Nothing tested came within 40% of its legal limitThe highest was Nickel at 12% of the 0.02 mg/L maximum. See every reading
Questions about TN24 water
Is TN24 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, TN24 (Ashford) water scores 9.6/10, which is safe. 0 of 13 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Southern Water.
What contaminants are in TN24 water?
We tested 13 contaminants in TN24 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels.
Who supplies water in TN24?
TN24 (Ashford) is supplied by Southern Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is TN24 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for TN24 itself. Across the TN postcode area the typical value is 150 mg/L CaCO3, which is classified as moderately hard. This is a moderate hardness level.
Should I use a water filter in TN24?
TN24 water scored 9.6/10 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 TN24 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for TN24, 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 TN24?
The Environment Agency rated the Great Stour between Ashford and Wye 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 water plants and algae, 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 dropped since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in TN24, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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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
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