CO5 tap water: what's in it?

Who supplies water in CO5

Drinking-water test record

How hard is the water in CO5?

Storm overflows nearby

Older homes and lead pipes

Fluoride

Hosepipe bans

What you can do

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)

• Why is my tap water brown?

  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 CO5

Is the water in CO5 hard or soft?

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 hard, at least 223 mg/l, at least 15.6 °Clark, at least 12.5 °dH, at least 22.3 °fH (Tiptree PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 223 mg/l (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. Anglian Water: at least very hard, at least 330 mg/l, at least 23.2 °Clark, at least 18.5 °dH, at least 33.0 °fH (Lexden PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 330 mg/l (very hard or harder); total hardness is higher. 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. Anglian 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 372 mg/l, at least 26.1 °Clark, at least 20.8 °dH, at least 37.2 °fH (Bures PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 372 mg/l (very hard or harder); total hardness is higher. Anglian Water: at least very hard, at least 349 mg/l, at least 24.5 °Clark, at least 19.6 °dH, at least 34.9 °fH (West Bergholt PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 349 mg/l (very hard or harder); total hardness is higher.

What does the drinking water regulator's record show for CO5?

Anglian Water group (figures include Anglian Water): at least 25 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 CO5 have lead pipes?

51% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of CO5 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: 49–51%. 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 CO5 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.