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Regulator record

CM9 tap water: what's in it?

Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water group (figures include Essex & Suffolk Water): at least 36 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.

CM9 tap water quality report · 2026

  • Hardness

    Hard

    Details

    MALDON (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

  • Hosepipe ban

    Hosepipe ban in force

    Details

    Essex & Suffolk Water (Environment Agency, 11 October 2026). Checked 11 October 2026 at 02:34

    See the notice ↗

  • Storm overflows

    24 overflows within 10 km of CM9 centre

    Details

    155 spills in 2025

  • Lead pipes

    49% built before 1973

    Details

    Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of CM9 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: 47–49%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).

    Ask Essex & Suffolk Water for a free lead test ↗

    Lead test kits

Who supplies water in CM9

Also supplied here: Anglian Water (9 of 1,055 postcodes (1%))

Boundary or unplaced: 55 postcodes

Drinking-water test record

Essex & Suffolk Water: 991 of 1,055 postcodes

Essex & Suffolk Water

Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water group, includes Essex & Suffolk Water

Regulator
DWI
Report year
2025
Failed tests
Not shown
Tests
266,202

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

Failed tests by parameter
AluminiumFailed tests: 4
E. coli (confirmed)Failed tests: 3
Enterococci (confirmed)Failed tests: 1
IronFailed tests: 9
LeadFailed tests: 5
ManganeseFailed tests: 3
NickelFailed tests: 2
Nitrite – consumers tapsFailed tests: 1
SodiumFailed tests: 1
Total coliforms (confirmed)Failed tests: 7

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

Anglian Water: 9 of 1,055 postcodes

Anglian Water

Anglian Water group, includes Anglian Water

Regulator
DWI
Report year
2025
Failed tests
Not shown
Tests
384,536

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

Failed tests by parameter
CopperFailed tests: 1
E. coli (confirmed)Failed tests: 1
IronFailed tests: 6
LeadFailed tests: 2
NickelFailed tests: 3
Total coliforms (confirmed)Failed tests: 10
Turbidity – indicatorFailed tests: 2

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 CM9?

55% of CM9's postcodes are in the MALDON supply zone (Essex & Suffolk Water): 261 mg/l, hard.

MALDON · Essex & Suffolk Water (581 of 1,055 postcodes)

261 mg/l · 18.3 °Clark · 14.6 °dH · 26.1 °fH

Hard

Zone average.

MALDON (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

Source: Essex & Suffolk Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026

5 identified supply zones in CM9

MALDON · Essex & Suffolk Water (581 of 1,055 postcodes)

261 mg/l · 18.3 °Clark · 14.6 °dH · 26.1 °fH

Hard

Zone average.

MALDON (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

Source: Essex & Suffolk Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026

WITHAM · Essex & Suffolk Water (267 of 1,055 postcodes)

230 mg/l · 16.1 °Clark · 12.9 °dH · 23.0 °fH

Hard

Zone average.

WITHAM (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

Source: Essex & Suffolk Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026

CHELMSFORD NORTH · Essex & Suffolk Water (108 of 1,055 postcodes)

230 mg/l · 16.1 °Clark · 12.9 °dH · 23.0 °fH

Hard

Zone average.

CHELMSFORD NORTH (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

Source: Essex & Suffolk Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026

Colchester South PWSZ · Anglian Water (8 of 1,055 postcodes)

at least 311 mg/l · at least 21.8 °Clark · at least 17.4 °dH · at least 31.1 °fH

At least very hard

Zone average. At least 311 mg/l (very hard or harder); total hardness is higher.

Colchester South PWSZ (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

Source: Anglian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026

Braintree South PWSZ · Anglian Water (1 of 1,055 postcodes)

at least 416 mg/l · at least 29.2 °Clark · at least 23.3 °dH · at least 41.6 °fH

At least very hard

Zone average. At least 416 mg/l (very hard or harder); total hardness is higher.

Braintree South PWSZ (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

Source: Anglian Water — dated January 2025 to December 2025, read 28 September 2026

35 postcodes without an identified supply zone

Essex & Suffolk Water (35 of 1,055 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

24 overflows within 10 km of CM9 centre · 155 spills in 2025

CM9 (district) · 2025

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

Overflows here are run by Anglian Water.

6 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.

Nearest 5 shown

  1. FAMBRIDGE RD - MALDON

    Into River Blackwater · 0.7 km from the centre of CM9

    4 spills · 19.8 hours · Monitored 99.5% of 2025

  2. MALDON PARK DRIVE CSO

    Into RIVER BLACKWATER VIA A LAGOON · 2 km from the centre of CM9

    0 spills · 0 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025

  3. CHELMSFORD WATER RECYCLING CENTRE

    Into BLACKWATER EST &TRIB R.CHELMER · 2.3 km from the centre of CM9

    5 spills · 41.8 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025

  4. CHELMSFORD WATER RECYCLING CENTRE

    Into BLACKWATER EST &TRIB R.CHELMER · 2.3 km from the centre of CM9

    4 spills · 22 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025

  5. MALDON WATER RECYCLING CENTRE

    Into TRIBUTARY OF PENNYS BROOK · 2.8 km from the centre of CM9

    4 spills · 36.8 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

49% built before 1973

49% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.

Homes in the parts of CM9 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: 47–49%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).

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

CM9 (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 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

Questions about tap water in CM9

Is the water in CM9 hard or soft?
Essex & Suffolk Water: hard, 261 mg/l, 18.3 °Clark, 14.6 °dH, 26.1 °fH (MALDON (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. Essex & Suffolk Water: hard, 230 mg/l, 16.1 °Clark, 12.9 °dH, 23.0 °fH (WITHAM (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. Essex & Suffolk Water: hard, 230 mg/l, 16.1 °Clark, 12.9 °dH, 23.0 °fH (CHELMSFORD NORTH (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. Essex & Suffolk Water: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report. Anglian Water: at least very hard, at least 311 mg/l, at least 21.8 °Clark, at least 17.4 °dH, at least 31.1 °fH (Colchester South PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 311 mg/l (very hard or harder); total hardness is higher. Anglian Water: at least very hard, at least 416 mg/l, at least 29.2 °Clark, at least 23.3 °dH, at least 41.6 °fH (Braintree South PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 416 mg/l (very hard or harder); total hardness is higher.
What does the drinking water regulator's record show for CM9?
Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water group (figures include Essex & Suffolk Water): at least 36 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 CM9 have lead pipes?
49% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of CM9 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: 47–49%. 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 CM9 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

Essex & Suffolk Water, Essex & Suffolk Water, Essex & Suffolk Water: 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 v3.0All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated © Crown copyright

Data generation uk-2026-10-16-derive6

Check another postcode

By TapWaterData Editorial

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