23 postcode districts testedWater quality in East of England
According to TapWater.uk's analysis, East of England scores 9.1/10 for drinking water quality in 2026, based on data from 23 postcode districts. Water quality in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas. Supplied by Anglian Water.
9.1 / 10
23 areas tested · 2 suppliers
Tap water in East of England has an average safety score of 9.1 out of 10 based on testing across 23 postcode districts. Water is supplied by Cambridge Water, Anglian Water. The overall water quality is good. Data is sourced from the Environment Agency and water company testing via the Stream Water Data Portal.
Cities in East of England
Average water quality score by city.
347mg of limescale minerals in every litre, on average across East of England
East of England water is very hard
Hard starts at 180 mg/L, very hard at 250. Hardness varies by area; check your own postcode for the reading where you live.
Softener quotes in East of England
At 347 mg/L a softener protects the boiler, kettle and taps. Tell us your postcode and we will pass your request to installers who cover it. Free, no obligation.
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River health around East of England
None of the 15 rivers and waters that East of England drains into is rated good by the Environment Agency. All of them fail the chemical test, as every river in England does, because of long-lasting pollutants such as mercury and PFOS. This describes the rivers, not your tap water.
| River or water | Ecological health | Postcode districts |
|---|---|---|
| Gipping (d/s Stowmarket) | Poor | IP1, IP2, IP4 |
| Bucklesham Mill River | Poor | IP3 |
| Wensum DS Norwich | Moderate | NR1, NR2, NR3, NR5, NR6, NR7 |
| Cam | Moderate | CB1, CB4 |
| Bin Brook | Moderate | CB3 |
| Bottisham Lode - Quy Water | Moderate | CB21 |
| Bourn Brook | Moderate | CB23 |
| Cam (Stapleford to Hauxton Junction) | Moderate | CB22 |
| Cherry Hinton Brook | Moderate | CB5 |
| Hevingham Watercourse | Moderate | NR10 |
| Hobson's Brook | Moderate | CB2 |
| Old West River | Moderate | CB24 |
Showing the 12 lowest rated of 15. Environment Agency classification, 2025. River health across England
Questions about East of England water
Is tap water safe in East of England?
Based on our analysis of 23 postcode districts in East of England, the average water quality score is 9.1/10, which is safe. Water is supplied by Cambridge Water, Anglian Water.
Which area has the best water in East of England?
NR8 (Broadland) has the highest water quality score in East of England at 9.4/10.
Which area has the worst water in East of England?
NR4 (Norwich) has the lowest water quality score in East of England at 8.5/10. Check the postcode page for details on specific contaminants.
Is East of England water hard or soft?
Water in East of England has an average hardness of 347 mg/L CaCO₃, which is classified as very hard. Hardness varies by area — check your postcode for exact levels.
Who supplies water in East of England?
Water in East of England is supplied by Cambridge Water, Anglian Water.
Data sourced from the Environment Agency Water Quality Archive and water company testing via the Stream Water Data Portal. See our methodology for how scores are calculated. Reviewed by the TapWater.uk research team.