Tap water in YO18, North YorkshireNitrite is over the limit.Very hard.
Supplied by Yorkshire Water. 501 samples, 25 substances, latest on 24 September 2026. Nitrite came in above the legal limit. Everything else passed.
8.8 / 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 309 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.
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Waterdrop 10UA Under Sink
£70typical price
High-volume under-sink filtration without RO complexity
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What's in a glass of YO18 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.
Nitrite is over its legal limit, at 146% of it.
- Nitrite146%
- Nitrate73%
- Colour15%
- Aluminium6%
- Trihalomethanes6%
- Mercury4%
- Fluoride3%
- Lead3%
- Iron3%
- Turbidity3%
- Copper3%
- Nickel2%
- Manganese2%
- Bromate2%
- Boron1%
- Selenium1%
- Arsenic<1%
- Cadmium<1%
- Antimony<1%
- Chromium<1%
- E. coli none found
- Coliform Bacteria none found
- Conductivity 574 µS/cm
- Phosphate 0.733 mg/L
All 25 results as a table
| Substance | Result | Legal limit | Share of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrite | 0.73 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | 146% |
| E. coli | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0 count/100ml | Must be zero | None found |
| Aluminium | 0.0111 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 6% |
| Iron | 0.00629 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | 3% |
| Manganese | 0.00101 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | 2% |
| Turbidity | 0.11 NTU | 4 NTU | 3% |
| Conductivity | 574 µS/cm | No legal limit | – |
| Colour | 3 mg/L Pt/Co | 20 mg/L Pt/Co | 15% |
| Phosphate | 0.733 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
| Nickel | 0.00044 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | 2% |
| Bromate | 0.0002 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 2% |
| Fluoride | 0.05 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | 3% |
| Copper | 0.0539 mg/L | 2 mg/L | 3% |
| Mercury | 0.00004 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | 4% |
| Trihalomethanes | 0.00551 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L | 6% |
| Chromium | 0.00019 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | <1% |
| Cadmium | 0.000031 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Boron | 0.0117 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 1% |
| Nitrate | 36.4 mg/L | 50 mg/L | 73% |
| Antimony | 0.000029 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L | <1% |
| Selenium | 0.00043 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L | 1% |
| Arsenic | 0.00009 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | <1% |
| Lead | 0.00032 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | 3% |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 305 mg/L | No legal limit | – |
309mg 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 YO18
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Your river is the Gundale Beck, rated moderate
The Environment Agency rated the Gundale Beck 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
YO18 in short
Tap water in YO18 (North Yorkshire) is supplied by Yorkshire Water in the North Yorkshire Central zone and scores 8.8 out of 10, against an England and Wales average of 9.0. 1 of 25 tested substances was close to or over a limit. The latest sample is from 24 September 2026.
- Nitrite was measured at 0.73 mg/L, 46% over the UK limitIt is the only one of 25 tested substances to go over its limit. See the full results
- Among the hardest water in the country at 309 mg/LVery hard starts at 250 mg/L. At this level kettles scale up within weeks and a softener is a normal purchase in YO18. How hardness is measured
- 26th cleanest of 28 areas tested in North Yorkshire2 areas in North Yorkshire scored lower. The best is BD24 on 9.7.
Questions about YO18 water
Is YO18 tap water safe to drink?
Based on the latest tests, YO18 (North Yorkshire) water scores 8.8/10, which is safe. 1 of 25 tested contaminants exceeded recommended levels. Water is supplied by Yorkshire Water.
What contaminants are in YO18 water?
We tested 25 contaminants in YO18 water. 1 were flagged, including Nitrite.
Who supplies water in YO18?
YO18 (North Yorkshire) is supplied by Yorkshire Water. You can view their full profile and compliance data on our supplier page.
Is YO18 water hard or soft?
Water in YO18 (North Yorkshire) has a hardness of 309 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 YO18?
With 1 contaminant above recommended levels in YO18, 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 YO18 water?
No PFAS (forever chemicals) result is attached to the tap-water tests for YO18, 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 YO18?
The Environment Agency rated the Gundale Beck 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 YO18, 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?
- Best Water Filters UKEvery filter type compared on what it actually removes
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- Best water softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared
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- Installation explainedWhere it goes, the bypass tap, the drain, DIY or plumber
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- Softener salt guideTablet, block or granular, and how much you get through
- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
Nitrate levelsHow to test your waterBest water filtersFilter shower headsWater testing kitsUK water rankingsWater hardness checkerWater hardness map
River and groundwater readings near YO18
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.
Get alerts for your area
We'll email you when water quality data changes for YO18.