BS40 tap water: what's in it?
Bristol Water: at least 16 tests failed UK drinking-water standards in 2025 (DWI, company-wide).
Some published DWI figures don't reconcile or identify a company, so we've left them out; the true number may be higher. England overall: 99.97% of tests met standards.
BS40 tap water quality report · 2026
Hardness
Hard
Shepton Mallet, Pilton, Oakhill, Wookey Hole and Shipham (supply zone) · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Details
Shepton Mallet, Pilton, Oakhill, Wookey Hole and Shipham (supply zone) · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Hosepipe ban
Hosepipe ban in force
Bristol Water (Environment Agency, 11 October 2026). Checked 11 October 2026 at 02:34
Details
Bristol Water (Environment Agency, 11 October 2026). Checked 11 October 2026 at 02:34
Storm overflows
25 overflows within 10 km of BS40 centre
765 spills in 2025
Details
765 spills in 2025
Lead pipes
67% built before 1973
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of BS40 we can match to council-tax records (100% of its postcodes) whose build period is known; the share with no recorded build period isn't published for these areas. Allowing for suppressed counts: 64–67%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Details
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of BS40 we can match to council-tax records (100% of its postcodes) whose build period is known; the share with no recorded build period isn't published for these areas. Allowing for suppressed counts: 64–67%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Who supplies water in BS40
Supplies 720 of 720 postcodes (100%)
Bristol Water's phone number isn't in our records; their contact page lists it.
We can't confirm your sewerage company from official data for this area.
Drinking-water test record
Bristol Water: 720 of 720 postcodes
Bristol Water
Bristol Water, company-wide
- Regulator
- DWI
- Report year
- 2025
- Failed tests
- Not shown
- Tests
- 90,027
The regulator's published total and its company rows disagree, so we don't show a count.
| Parameter | Failed tests |
|---|---|
| Aluminium | Failed tests: 1 |
| Clostridium Perfringens (sulphite-reducing clostridia) (confirmed) | Failed tests: 1 |
| E. coli (confirmed) | Failed tests: 1 |
| Enterococci (confirmed) | Failed tests: 1 |
| Iron | Failed tests: 2 |
| Manganese | Failed tests: 1 |
| Nickel | Failed tests: 4 |
| Total coliforms (confirmed) | Failed tests: 5 |
Source: DWI england 2025, Annex B — dated 6 July 2026, read 13 October 2026
Source: DWI england 2025, Annex A — dated 6 July 2026, read 13 October 2026
England: 99.97% of tests met standards in 2025 (DWI).
Source: DWI england 2025, national compliance — dated 6 July 2026, read 13 October 2026
How hard is the water in BS40?
Across BS40's supply zones, hardness ranges from 194 mg/l (moderately hard) to 238 mg/l (hard). Those 6 zones cover 98% of its postcodes.
6 identified supply zones in BS40
Shepton Mallet, Pilton, Oakhill, Wookey Hole and Shipham · Bristol Water (265 of 720 postcodes)
222 mg/l · 15.6 °Clark · 12.4 °dH · 22.2 °fH
Published figure.
Shepton Mallet, Pilton, Oakhill, Wookey Hole and Shipham (supply zone) · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Source: Bristol Water — dated 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Long Ashton, Failand, Bishopsworth and Dundry · Bristol Water (163 of 720 postcodes)
206 mg/l · 14.5 °Clark · 11.5 °dH · 20.6 °fH
Published figure.
Long Ashton, Failand, Bishopsworth and Dundry (supply zone) · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Source: Bristol Water — dated 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Churchill, Banwell, Bleadon and Weston-Super-Mare · Bristol Water (144 of 720 postcodes)
206 mg/l · 14.5 °Clark · 11.5 °dH · 20.6 °fH
Published figure.
Churchill, Banwell, Bleadon and Weston-Super-Mare (supply zone) · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Source: Bristol Water — dated 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Blagdon, Clutton, Peasdown, Midsomer Norton and Radstock · Bristol Water (115 of 720 postcodes)
194 mg/l · 13.6 °Clark · 10.9 °dH · 19.4 °fH
Published figure.
Blagdon, Clutton, Peasdown, Midsomer Norton and Radstock (supply zone) · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Source: Bristol Water — dated 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Nailsea, Backwell and Yatton · Bristol Water (17 of 720 postcodes)
223 mg/l · 15.6 °Clark · 12.5 °dH · 22.3 °fH
Published figure.
Nailsea, Backwell and Yatton (supply zone) · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Source: Bristol Water — dated 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, read 28 September 2026
Whitchurch, Hengrove, Knowle and Knowle Park · Bristol Water (1 of 720 postcodes)
238 mg/l · 16.7 °Clark · 13.3 °dH · 23.8 °fH
Published figure.
Whitchurch, Hengrove, Knowle and Knowle Park (supply zone) · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Source: Bristol Water — dated 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, read 28 September 2026
15 postcodes without an identified supply zone
South West Water (15 of 720 postcodes)
We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
Storm overflows nearby
25 overflows within 10 km of BS40 centre · 765 spills in 2025
BS40 (district) · 2025
Source: Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 — dated 20 August 2026, read 13 October 2026
Overflows here are run by Wessex Water.
10 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.
Nearest 5 shown
BUTCOMBE WATER RECYCLING CENTRE
Into CONGRESBURY YEO AND BUTCOMBE · 2 km from the centre of BS40
44 spills · 817.6 hours · Monitored 99.3% of 2025
BLAGDON WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS
Into CONGRESBURY YEO · 2.1 km from the centre of BS40
34 spills · 355 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025
Not Applicable
Into CONGRESBURY YEO · 2.2 km from the centre of BS40
12 spills · 52.1 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025
UBLEY WATER RECYCLING CENTRE
Into CONGRESBURY YEO, TRIB OF LAKE · 2.6 km from the centre of BS40
50 spills · 945.9 hours · Monitored 99.8% of 2025
CHEW STOKE PUMPING STATION
Into TRIB OF RIVER CHEW · 4.5 km from the centre of BS40
50 spills · 74.3 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025
Annual 2025 figures from monitored overflows. Not live, and not a bathing-water or tap-water verdict.
- 57 England outfalls in the 2025 return had no usable location and aren't counted.
- Northern Ireland isn't covered: No licensed annual per-outfall source in the approved source list; BT postcode coordinates require an LPS licence.
Older homes and lead pipes
67% built before 1973
67% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.
Homes in the parts of BS40 we can match to council-tax records (100% of its postcodes) whose build period is known; the share with no recorded build period isn't published for these areas. Allowing for suppressed counts: 64–67%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.
BS40 (district) · 2026
Source: Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties — dated 31 March 2026, read 24 September 2026
Fluoride
We cannot confirm whether this area is part of a water fluoridation scheme. Ask your water supplier using your postcode.
Around one in ten people in England receive drinking water supplied by a fluoridation scheme.
England · 2026 health monitoring report
Source: UKHSA and DHSC — dated 30 March 2026, read 13 October 2026
Hosepipe bans
What you can do
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to amazon.com; Amazon's Earn Globally service can localise them to amazon.co.uk. Check the model and UK delivery before buying.
Water filter jugs
LifeStraw
LSH7GLSPK21
Performance certification:
Certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 42 for Aesthetic Chlorine and Taste and Odor; Certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 53 for Lead and Mercury; Certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 401 for Microplastics (a US/international standard; it is not UK approval)
View Detailsreduces chlorine taste and odour in drinking water.
A UK retailer lists this model. Amazon UK stock and delivery are unverified; this Amazon link may not ship to the UK. Check the exact model and UK delivery before you pay.
UK availability evidence checked 14 October 2026.
Shower filters
Weddell Water
WD-100BL
Performance certification:
Certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI 177 for Free Available Chlorine Reduction (a US/international standard; it is not UK approval)
View Detailsreduces chlorine in shower water; does not soften water.
A UK retailer lists this model. Amazon UK stock and delivery are unverified; this Amazon link may not ship to the UK. Check the exact model and UK delivery before you pay.
Check it fits your shower fitting before buying; a US fitting may need an adaptor.
UK availability evidence checked 14 October 2026.
We haven't verified a water softener for UK buyers yet.
What a pick has to pass:
- An exact-model listing from NSF, WQA or IAPMO for the model sold in the UK
- Listed to NSF/ANSI 44, the water softener standard
- The manufacturer's documented feed connection and water-pressure range, so a plumber can check them against UK pipework
- UK availability evidenced by Amazon UK, the manufacturer or a UK retailer, checked in the last 90 days
Until we can recommend one, see what a softener costs to buy, fit and run in the UK. Water softener cost
We haven't verified a lead test kit for UK buyers yet.
What a pick has to pass:
- A lead result reported by a laboratory accredited for that test (UKAS, ISO/IEC 17025), named on the kit's listing
- UK availability evidenced by Amazon UK, the manufacturer or a UK retailer, checked in the last 90 days
Start with your water company: if you think you have lead pipes, you can ask it to test the water at your kitchen tap. Which water test you need
Common water problems
How much does a water softener cost in the UK?
Water softener cost UK 2026: price by home size
Why is my tap water cloudy or white?
Why is my tap water cloudy or white? (UK)
Brown tap water: causes and what to do (UK)
Why does my tap water taste metallic?
Tap water tastes metallic? Causes and fixes (UK)
Questions about tap water in BS40
- Is the water in BS40 hard or soft?
- Bristol Water: hard, 222 mg/l, 15.6 °Clark, 12.4 °dH, 22.2 °fH (Shepton Mallet, Pilton, Oakhill, Wookey Hole and Shipham (supply zone), 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025). Published figure. Bristol Water: hard, 206 mg/l, 14.5 °Clark, 11.5 °dH, 20.6 °fH (Long Ashton, Failand, Bishopsworth and Dundry (supply zone), 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025). Published figure. Bristol Water: hard, 206 mg/l, 14.5 °Clark, 11.5 °dH, 20.6 °fH (Churchill, Banwell, Bleadon and Weston-Super-Mare (supply zone), 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025). Published figure. Bristol Water: moderately hard, 194 mg/l, 13.6 °Clark, 10.9 °dH, 19.4 °fH (Blagdon, Clutton, Peasdown, Midsomer Norton and Radstock (supply zone), 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025). Published figure. Bristol Water: hard, 223 mg/l, 15.6 °Clark, 12.5 °dH, 22.3 °fH (Nailsea, Backwell and Yatton (supply zone), 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025). Published figure. South West Water: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report. Bristol Water: hard, 238 mg/l, 16.7 °Clark, 13.3 °dH, 23.8 °fH (Whitchurch, Hengrove, Knowle and Knowle Park (supply zone), 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025). Published figure.
- What does the drinking water regulator's record show for BS40?
- Bristol Water: at least 16 tests failed UK drinking-water standards in 2025 (DWI, company-wide). Some published DWI figures don't reconcile or identify a company, so we've left them out; the true number may be higher. England overall: 99.97% of tests met standards.
- Could homes in BS40 have lead pipes?
- 67% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of BS40 we can match to council-tax records (100% of its postcodes) whose build period is known; the share with no recorded build period isn't published for these areas. Allowing for suppressed counts: 64–67%. England and Wales: 61% (2026). Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.
- Is the water in BS40 fluoridated?
- We cannot confirm whether this area is part of a water fluoridation scheme. Ask your water supplier using your postcode. Around one in ten people in England receive drinking water supplied by a fluoridation scheme.
Sources and method
- Water Company Boundaries (UC2) ↗ · 19 September 2026 · read 20 September 2026
- DWI england 2025, Annex B ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- DWI england 2025, national compliance ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- Bristol Water ↗ · 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 · read 28 September 2026
- Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties ↗ · 2026 · read 24 September 2026
- UKHSA and DHSC ↗ · 2026 health monitoring report · read 13 October 2026
- Environment Agency ↗ · 11 October 2026 · read 11 October 2026
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Data generation uk-2026-10-16-derive6