Tap water in WS1, WalsallSafe to drink.
Supplied by Severn Trent. 8,537 samples, 21 substances, latest on 30 December 2024. Everything is inside the legal limit, and nothing comes close to it.
8.7 / 10
The tank is as full as the score.
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 WS1 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.
Trihalomethanes came closest to a limit, at 70% of it. 16 of 19 substances used under a quarter of theirs.
- Trihalomethanes70%
- Fluoride66%
- Nitrate43%
- Colour10%
- Arsenic10%
- Lead9%
- Bromate8%
- Boron5%
- Nickel5%
- Antimony4%
- Iron4%
- Manganese3%
- Aluminium3%
- Turbidity3%
- Cadmium2%
- Selenium2%
- Chromium1%
- Nitrite<1%
- Copper<1%
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- Conductivity 325 µS/cm
All 21 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | 0.0067 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Iron | 0.0073 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 4% |
| Manganese | 0.0017 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 3% |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Colour | 2 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 10% |
| Turbidity | 0.12 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Conductivity | 325 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.0699 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 70% |
| Bromate | 0.0008 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 8% |
| Copper | 0.009 mg/L | 2 mg/L | <1% |
| Fluoride | 0.983 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 66% |
| Arsenic | 0.001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 10% |
| Cadmium | 0.00012 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 2% |
| Chromium | 0.0005 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 1% |
| Nickel | 0.0009 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 5% |
| Lead | 0.0009 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 9% |
| Antimony | 0.0002 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | 4% |
| Selenium | 0.0008 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 2% |
| Nitrate | 21.3 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 43% |
| Nitrite | 0.004 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | <1% |
| Boron | 0.048 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 5% |
Your river is the Ford Brook from Source to River Tame, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Ford Brook from Source to River Tame as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by insects and other small river life, ammonia and 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
22
forever-chemical detections in nearby rivers and groundwater
At 5 sites. The highest was PFHxS (linear) at 0.0094 µg/L, at Sandwell Park Golf Club Borehole, West Bromwich, 7.5 km away, in September 2025. These are river and borehole samples, not tests of your tap water.
Every PFAS sample around Birmingham · Which filters remove PFAS · PFAS explained
WS1 in short
Tap water in WS1 (Walsall) is supplied by Severn Trent in the Walsall Central zone and scores 8.7 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. None of the 21 tested substances came close to a limit. The latest sample is from 30 December 2024.
- The lowest score of the 9 areas tested in WalsallWS1 scores 8.7 out of 10. The best in Walsall, WS3, scores 9.6.
- Every one of the 10 neighbouring districts scores higherWS3 next door scores 9.6, against 8.7 here. Supply zones, not distance, explain the gap. See WS3
- Trihalomethanes is the reading closest to its limit, at 70% of the 0.1 mg/L maximumIt passed with room to spare, and everything else tested sat further below its limit. See every reading
Questions about WS1 water
Is WS1 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, WS1 (Walsall) water scores 8.7/10, which is safe. 0 of 21 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Severn Trent.
What contaminants are in WS1 water?
We tested 21 contaminants in WS1 water. None exceeded recommended safe levels. PFAS (forever chemicals) were also measured in rivers and groundwater within 10 km, though not in the tap-water tests themselves.
Who supplies water in WS1?
WS1 (Walsall) is supplied by Severn Trent. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Should I use a water filter in WS1?
WS1 water scored 8.7/10 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 WS1 water?
The tap-water tests we hold for WS1 do not include a PFAS result. Environment Agency monitoring found PFAS in 22 river and groundwater samples from 5 sites within 10 km of WS1, the highest being PFHxS (linear) at 0.0094 µg/L about 7.5 km away. These are environmental samples, not tests of tap water. The UK currently has no legal limit for PFAS in drinking water; the Drinking Water Inspectorate uses a 0.1 µg/L guideline for individual compounds. Reverse osmosis filters can reduce PFAS levels.
How clean is the river near WS1?
The Environment Agency rated the Ford Brook from Source to River Tame as moderate for ecological health in its 2025 assessment, meaning the river is noticeably changed by pollution or engineering. It is held back by insects and other small river life, ammonia and 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 WS1, which is treated before it reaches homes.
Keep reading
- Best Filter for PFAS RemovalThe filters with independent certification to remove forever chemicals
- PFAS Forever ChemicalsWhat PFAS are and how to reduce your exposure at home
- Is UK Tap Water Safe?Everything you need to know about tap water safety in the UK
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
PFAS explainedHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near WS1
Environment Agency samples from rivers, groundwater and reservoirs nearby. Not your tap water. For scale they are shown against drinking water limits; rivers are judged against much stricter environmental standards, and on those every river in England fails for chemicals.
| Substance | Reading | Drinking water limit |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.7 pH | None |
| Temperature | 15.4 °C | None |
| Conductivity | 1106 µS/cm | None |
| Ammonia | 0.15 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 6.5 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0.13 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Phosphate | 0.084 mg/L | None |
| Dissolved Oxygen | 8.66 mg/L | None |
| Iron | 0.052 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| Nickel | 0.00436 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L |
| Copper | 0.00168 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Zinc | 0.0309 mg/L | None |
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for WS1.