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Regulator record

CH1 tap water: what's in it?

Severn Trent Water: at least 40 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.

CH1 tap water quality report · 2026

  • Hardness

    Soft

    Details

    City (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026

  • Hosepipe ban

    Not available

    Details

    We can't confirm the hosepipe-ban status for Severn Trent Water from the information we hold.

    Check the company's current advice

  • Storm overflows

    70 overflows within 10 km of CH1 centre

    Details

    1,649 spills in 2025

  • Lead pipes

    58% built before 1973

    Details

    Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of CH1 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: 57–59%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).

    Ask Severn Trent Water for a free lead test ↗

    Lead test kits

Who supplies water in CH1

Also supplied here: Hafren Dyfrdwy (17 of 1,050 postcodes (2%)); Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (3 of 1,050 postcodes (0%))

Boundary or unplaced: 4 postcodes

Drinking-water test record

Severn Trent Water: 909 of 1,050 postcodes

Severn Trent Water

Severn Trent Water, company-wide

Regulator
DWI
Report year
2025
Failed tests
Not shown
Tests
452,303

The regulator's published total and its company rows disagree, so we don't show a count.

Failed tests by parameter
Benzo[a]Pyrene (total)Failed tests: 1
E. coli (confirmed)Failed tests: 3
IronFailed tests: 15
LeadFailed tests: 4
ManganeseFailed tests: 2
NickelFailed tests: 6
Total coliforms (confirmed)Failed tests: 8
Turbidity – indicatorFailed tests: 1

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

United Utilities: 117 of 1,050 postcodes

United Utilities

United Utilities, company-wide

Regulator
DWI
Report year
2025
Failed tests
Not shown
Tests
385,673

The regulator's published total and its company rows disagree, so we don't show a count.

Failed tests by parameter
AluminiumFailed tests: 5
E. coli (confirmed)Failed tests: 4
IronFailed tests: 18
LeadFailed tests: 7
ManganeseFailed tests: 7
NickelFailed tests: 3
Total coliforms (confirmed)Failed tests: 13

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

Hafren Dyfrdwy: 17 of 1,050 postcodes

Hafren Dyfrdwy

Hafren Dyfrdwy, company-wide

Regulator
DWI
Report year
2025
Failed tests
Not shown
Tests
Not given in the report

The regulator's published total and its company rows disagree, so we don't show a count.

Failed tests by parameter
Coliform bacteria (indicator)Failed tests: 9
ColourFailed tests: 1
Total coliforms (confirmed)Failed tests: 1
Turbidity – indicatorFailed tests: 1

Source: DWI wales 2025, Annex B — dated 14 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

Source: DWI wales 2025, Annex A — dated 14 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

Wales: 99.97% of tests met standards in 2025 (DWI).

Source: DWI wales 2025, national compliance — dated 9 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water: 3 of 1,050 postcodes

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, company-wide

Regulator
DWI
Report year
2025
Failed tests
Not shown
Tests
Not given in the report

The regulator's published total and its company rows disagree, so we don't show a count.

Failed tests by parameter
Coliform bacteria (indicator)Failed tests: 24
E. coli (confirmed)Failed tests: 2
LeadFailed tests: 2
ManganeseFailed tests: 1
OdourFailed tests: 5
Taste (quantitative)Failed tests: 5
Total coliforms (confirmed)Failed tests: 20

Source: DWI wales 2025, Annex B — dated 14 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

Source: DWI wales 2025, Annex A — dated 14 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

Wales: 99.97% of tests met standards in 2025 (DWI).

Source: DWI wales 2025, national compliance — dated 9 July 2026, read 13 October 2026

How hard is the water in CH1?

54% of CH1's postcodes are in the City supply zone (Severn Trent Water): 97 mg/l, soft.

City · Severn Trent Water (565 of 1,050 postcodes)

97 mg/l · 6.8 °Clark · 5.4 °dH · 9.7 °fH

Soft

Typical value.

City (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 29 September 2026

7 identified supply zones in CH1

City · Severn Trent Water (565 of 1,050 postcodes)

97 mg/l · 6.8 °Clark · 5.4 °dH · 9.7 °fH

Soft

Typical value.

City (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 29 September 2026

Newton · Severn Trent Water (175 of 1,050 postcodes)

97 mg/l · 6.8 °Clark · 5.4 °dH · 9.7 °fH

Soft

Typical value.

Newton (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 29 September 2026

Sutton Hall North · United Utilities (93 of 1,050 postcodes)

93 mg/l · 6.5 °Clark · 5.2 °dH · 9.3 °fH

Soft

Zone average of 56 samples.

Sutton Hall North (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 56 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 28 September 2026

Pipers Ash · Severn Trent Water (29 of 1,050 postcodes)

106 mg/l · 7.4 °Clark · 5.9 °dH · 10.6 °fH

Slightly hard

Typical value.

Pipers Ash (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 29 September 2026

Hapsford · United Utilities (21 of 1,050 postcodes)

89 mg/l · 6.2 °Clark · 5.0 °dH · 8.9 °fH

Soft

Zone average of 37 samples.

Hapsford (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 37 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 28 September 2026

Saltney · Hafren Dyfrdwy (17 of 1,050 postcodes)

101 mg/l · 7.1 °Clark · 5.6 °dH · 10.1 °fH

Slightly hard

Typical value.

Saltney (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026

Source: Hafren Dyfrdwy — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 1 October 2026

Ellesmere Port · United Utilities (3 of 1,050 postcodes)

99 mg/l · 6.9 °Clark · 5.5 °dH · 9.9 °fH

Soft

Zone average of 27 samples.

Ellesmere Port (supply zone) · 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 27 samples

Source: United Utilities — dated 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026, read 28 September 2026

143 postcodes without an identified supply zone

Severn Trent Water (140 of 1,050 postcodes)

We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.

Ask your water company

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (3 of 1,050 postcodes)

We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.

Ask your water company

Storm overflows nearby

70 overflows within 10 km of CH1 centre · 1,649 spills in 2025

CH1 (district) · 2025

Source: Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 — dated 20 August 2026, read 13 October 2026

Overflows here are run by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and United Utilities.

69 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.

Nearest 5 shown

  1. Unknown

    Into Finchetts Gutter · 0.5 km from the centre of CH1

    4 spills · 2.5 hours · Monitored 99.6% of 2025

  2. CHESTER PARKGATE COURT SPS

    Into Bache Brook · 0.7 km from the centre of CH1

    3 spills · 0.8 hours · Monitored 95.8% of 2025

  3. BACHE TANKS CSO

    Into Bache Brook · 1.1 km from the centre of CH1

    0 spills · 0 hours · Monitored 99.8% of 2025

  4. WEST OF WEALSTONE LANE CSO

    Into Bache Brook · 1.1 km from the centre of CH1

    27 spills · 51 hours · Monitored 94.7% of 2025

  5. CSO AT CHESTER STW

    Into Esturial Waters of the River Dee · 1.1 km from the centre of CH1

    28 spills · 56 hours · Monitored 99.9% 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

58% built before 1973

58% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.

Homes in the parts of CH1 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: 57–59%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).

Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.

CH1 (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.

About fluoride in UK water

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

Fluoride in UK tap water

Hosepipe bans

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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)

    reduces 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.

    View Details

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)

    reduces 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.

    View Details

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

Questions about tap water in CH1

Is the water in CH1 hard or soft?
Severn Trent Water: soft, 97 mg/l, 6.8 °Clark, 5.4 °dH, 9.7 °fH (City (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Severn Trent Water: soft, 97 mg/l, 6.8 °Clark, 5.4 °dH, 9.7 °fH (Newton (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Severn Trent Water: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report. United Utilities: soft, 93 mg/l, 6.5 °Clark, 5.2 °dH, 9.3 °fH (Sutton Hall North (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 56 samples). Zone average of 56 samples. Severn Trent Water: slightly hard, 106 mg/l, 7.4 °Clark, 5.9 °dH, 10.6 °fH (Pipers Ash (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. United Utilities: soft, 89 mg/l, 6.2 °Clark, 5.0 °dH, 8.9 °fH (Hapsford (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 37 samples). Zone average of 37 samples. Hafren Dyfrdwy: slightly hard, 101 mg/l, 7.1 °Clark, 5.6 °dH, 10.1 °fH (Saltney (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. United Utilities: soft, 99 mg/l, 6.9 °Clark, 5.5 °dH, 9.9 °fH (Ellesmere Port (supply zone), 12-month average, updated 25 September 2026; 27 samples). Zone average of 27 samples. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
What does the drinking water regulator's record show for CH1?
Severn Trent Water: at least 40 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 CH1 have lead pipes?
58% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of CH1 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: 57–59%. 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 CH1 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

Severn Trent Water contact page, United Utilities contact page, Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities, Hafren Dyfrdwy, United Utilities: Database right, used under the publisher's terms.

Water company boundaries © Water UK, licensed under CC BY 4.0Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Data generation uk-2026-10-16-derive6

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By TapWaterData Editorial

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