Anglian Water Tap Water Quality

Anglian Water supplies East of England with drinking water drawn from primarily chalk and Jurassic limestone aquifers beneath East Anglia and Lincolnshire, supplemented by surface water reservoirs.

Anglian Water operates in the driest region of the UK, and relies heavily on groundwater from chalk and limestone aquifers that produce hard to very hard water throughout the region. Hardness typically runs 200–280 mg/L, with some zones in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire exceeding 300 mg/L. Nitrate levels are a particular concern in this agricultural region — several zones have mean values above 30 mg/L due to intensive arable farming, and Anglian Water operates nitrate removal infrastructure at a number of treatment works. Bromate contamination from historic industrial solvent use has affected some groundwater sources.

Typical water profile

With typical hardness of approximately 240 mg/L CaCO₃, water in the Anglian Water supply area is classified as hard. This means significant limescale buildup on kettles, showerheads, and heating elements over time. A water softener or quality filter jug is a worthwhile investment for most households in this area.

Notable: Consistently hard water across the region (200–280 mg/L CaCO₃). Elevated nitrates in many rural zones due to arable agriculture. Bromate concerns at some sites. Active PFAS programme under DWI enforcement.

Is Anglian Water water safe to drink?

Yes. All treated water supplied by Anglian Water meets the UK Drinking Water Regulations. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) audits every water company annually — Anglian Water serves 4.5 million customers across 84 supply zones. Each zone is tested thousands of times per year and results are published in the annual compliance report.

However, water quality varies significantly between zones within the Anglian Water supply area. Your specific zone may have different hardness, nitrate, or THM levels from your neighbour in a different zone. That's why it's worth checking your exact postcode above.

How to check your Anglian Water zone

Enter your postcode in the box above to see zone-specific data for your address — including hardness, nitrates, lead, chlorine, fluoride, and THMs — drawn directly from Anglian Water's most recent annual compliance report.