Tap water in TN5, RotherToo few tap tests to call it.Slightly hard.
Supplied by Southern Water. 9 substances, latest on 11 September 2026. These are river and groundwater samples near TN5, not tests of treated tap water, so treat the score as a rough guide.
8.3 / 10
The tank is as full as the score. The specks are the minerals that make water hard.
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What's in a glass of TN5 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.
Iron came closest to a limit, at 95% of it. 3 of 4 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Iron95%
- Ammonia7%
- Nitrate3%
- Nitrite<1%
- pH 7.99 pH
- Temperature 15.3 °C
- Conductivity 844 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.23 mg/L
- Dissolved Oxygen 8.06 mg/L
All 9 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 0.19 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 95% |
| pH | 7.99 pH | No legal limit | – |
| Temperature | 15.3 °C | No legal limit | – |
| Conductivity | 844 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Nitrate | 1.3 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 3% |
| Nitrite | 0.0047 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | <1% |
| Phosphate | 0.23 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 8.06 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Ammonia | 0.036 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 7% |
150mg of limescale minerals in every litre, typical for the TN area. TN5 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 Bewl, rated good
The Environment Agency rated the Bewl as good for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is only slightly changed from its natural state. 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. 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
TN5 in short
Tap water in TN5 (Rother) is supplied by Southern Water in the Rother Central zone and scores 8.3 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 9 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 11 September 2026.
- Iron is within its legal limit but flagged, at 95% of the 0.2 mg/L maximumAnything over three quarters of a limit is flagged here as worth watching. It has not gone over. See every reading
- The lowest score of the 8 areas tested in RotherTN5 scores 8.3 out of 10. The best in Rother, TN40, scores 9.7.
- Every one of the 7 neighbouring districts scores higherTN40 next door scores 9.7, against 8.3 here. Supply zones, not distance, explain the gap. See TN40
Questions about TN5 water
Is TN5 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, TN5 (Rother) water scores 8.3/10, which is safe. 1 of 9 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Southern Water.
What contaminants are in TN5 water?
We tested 9 contaminants in TN5 water. 1 were flagged, including Iron.
Who supplies water in TN5?
TN5 (Rother) is supplied by Southern Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is TN5 water hard or soft?
No hardness reading has been published for TN5 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 TN5?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in TN5, a water filter could help. A filter jug or under-sink filter can reduce most common contaminants. See our filter recommendations for your area.
Are there PFAS forever chemicals in TN5 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for TN5, 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 TN5?
The Environment Agency rated the Bewl as good for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is only slightly changed from its natural state. 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. Its ecological rating has improved since the previous assessment. This is a rating of the river, not of tap water in TN5, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
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- Best Water Filter Jug UKBRITA vs ZeroWater vs the rest, tested against real data
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