Tap Water in East MidlandsPFAS notice

The East Midlands — covering Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Rutland — is served primarily by Severn Trent Water and, in Lincolnshire and parts of Northamptonshire, by Anglian Water. Severn Trent is the second-largest UK water company by geography, serving around 8 million customers across the Midlands and into parts of Wales.

Water hardness in the East Midlands is generally moderate — harder than the North West or Scotland, but softer than London, the South East, or East Anglia. Most zones in Leicester, Nottingham, and Derby see hardness in the range 150–220 mg/L CaCO₃. Lincolnshire, served partly by Anglian Water and partly by Severn Trent's eastern operations, tends towards harder water due to chalk and limestone geology. Some Lincolnshire zones can exceed 300 mg/L.

Water sources in the East Midlands

Severn Trent sources water in the East Midlands from a combination of surface water reservoirs (the Derwent Valley dams — Howden, Derwent, and Ladybower — are iconic Derbyshire Peak District landmarks) and groundwater from the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer beneath Nottinghamshire. The Sherwood Sandstone provides very reliable, high-quality groundwater — but can have elevated nitrates in areas with intensive agriculture above. Surface water from Derbyshire's Peak District is soft and low in minerals; as it blends with harder groundwater in the distribution system, the resulting mixed supply has moderate hardness.

PFAS and water quality in the East Midlands

Severn Trent holds active DWI PFAS improvement notices. PFAS have been detected in some East Midlands supply zones, linked to historic industrial use and military airfields in the region. Severn Trent has committed to significant investment in advanced treatment to address PFAS. Overall water quality in the East Midlands is good — the DWI's annual reports consistently show Severn Trent achieving high compliance rates across its network.