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Regulator record

LE16 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.

LE16 tap water quality report · 2026

  • Hardness

    Hard

    Details

    Market Harborough (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

    36 overflows within 10 km of LE16 centre

    Details

    897 spills in 2025

  • Lead pipes

    45% built before 1973

    Details

    Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of LE16 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: 44–45%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).

    Ask Severn Trent Water for a free lead test ↗

    Lead test kits

Who supplies water in LE16

Boundary or unplaced: 39 postcodes

Drinking-water test record

Severn Trent Water: 785 of 1,076 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

Anglian Water: 252 of 1,076 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 LE16?

Across LE16's supply zones, hardness ranges from 229 mg/l (hard) to 250 mg/l (hard). Those 5 zones cover 64% of its postcodes.

8 identified supply zones in LE16

Market Harborough · Severn Trent Water (399 of 1,076 postcodes)

229 mg/l · 16.1 °Clark · 12.8 °dH · 22.9 °fH

Hard

Typical value.

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

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 30 September 2026

Husbands Bosworth · Severn Trent Water (143 of 1,076 postcodes)

234 mg/l · 16.4 °Clark · 13.1 °dH · 23.4 °fH

Hard

Typical value.

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

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 30 September 2026

Beanfield PWSZ · Anglian Water (124 of 1,076 postcodes)

at least 225 mg/l · at least 15.8 °Clark · at least 12.6 °dH · at least 22.5 °fH

At least hard

Zone average. At least 225 mg/l (hard or harder); total hardness is higher.

Beanfield PWSZ (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

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

Desborough PWSZ · Anglian Water (109 of 1,076 postcodes)

at least 233 mg/l · at least 16.3 °Clark · at least 13.0 °dH · at least 23.3 °fH

At least hard

Zone average. At least 233 mg/l (hard or harder); total hardness is higher.

Desborough PWSZ (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

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

Kibworth A6 · Severn Trent Water (73 of 1,076 postcodes)

250 mg/l · 17.5 °Clark · 14.0 °dH · 25.0 °fH

Hard

Typical value.

Kibworth A6 (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 30 September 2026

East Leicester Rural · Severn Trent Water (68 of 1,076 postcodes)

249 mg/l · 17.5 °Clark · 14.0 °dH · 24.9 °fH

Hard

Typical value.

East Leicester Rural (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 30 September 2026

Ravensthorpe PWSZ · Anglian Water (15 of 1,076 postcodes)

at least 188 mg/l · at least 13.2 °Clark · at least 10.5 °dH · at least 18.8 °fH

At least moderately hard

Zone average. At least 188 mg/l (moderately hard or harder); total hardness is higher.

Ravensthorpe PWSZ (supply zone) · January 2025 to December 2025

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

Arnesby · Severn Trent Water (5 of 1,076 postcodes)

242 mg/l · 16.9 °Clark · 13.5 °dH · 24.2 °fH

Hard

Typical value.

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

Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 30 September 2026

101 postcodes without an identified supply zone

Severn Trent Water (97 of 1,076 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

Anglian Water (4 of 1,076 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

36 overflows within 10 km of LE16 centre · 897 spills in 2025

LE16 (district) · 2025

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

Overflows here are run by Anglian Water.

28 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.

Nearest 5 shown

  1. MARKET HARBOROUGH-RIVERSIDE ROAD

    Into River Welland · 1 km from the centre of LE16

    17 spills · 184.8 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025

  2. MARKET HARBOROUGH-RIVERSIDE ROAD

    Into River Welland NT · 1.2 km from the centre of LE16

    48 spills · 652.8 hours · Monitored 99.5% of 2025

  3. MARKET HARBOROUGH SOUTH CSO

    Into River Welland · 1.2 km from the centre of LE16

    14 spills · 56.5 hours · Monitored 98.6% of 2025

  4. BRAYBROOKE WATER RECYCLING CENTRE

    Into R.Jordan River Welland NT · 3.8 km from the centre of LE16

    2 spills · 0.5 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025

  5. BRAYBROOKE SPS

    Into River Jordan · 4 km from the centre of LE16

    10 spills · 92.3 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

45% built before 1973

45% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.

Homes in the parts of LE16 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: 44–45%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).

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

LE16 (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 LE16

Is the water in LE16 hard or soft?
Severn Trent Water: hard, 229 mg/l, 16.1 °Clark, 12.8 °dH, 22.9 °fH (Market Harborough (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Severn Trent Water: hard, 234 mg/l, 16.4 °Clark, 13.1 °dH, 23.4 °fH (Husbands Bosworth (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Anglian Water: at least hard, at least 225 mg/l, at least 15.8 °Clark, at least 12.6 °dH, at least 22.5 °fH (Beanfield PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 225 mg/l (hard or harder); total hardness is higher. Anglian Water: at least hard, at least 233 mg/l, at least 16.3 °Clark, at least 13.0 °dH, at least 23.3 °fH (Desborough PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 233 mg/l (hard or harder); total hardness is higher. Severn Trent Water: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report. Severn Trent Water: hard, 250 mg/l, 17.5 °Clark, 14.0 °dH, 25.0 °fH (Kibworth A6 (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Severn Trent Water: hard, 249 mg/l, 17.5 °Clark, 14.0 °dH, 24.9 °fH (East Leicester Rural (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Anglian Water: at least moderately hard, at least 188 mg/l, at least 13.2 °Clark, at least 10.5 °dH, at least 18.8 °fH (Ravensthorpe PWSZ (supply zone), January 2025 to December 2025). Zone average. At least 188 mg/l (moderately hard or harder); total hardness is higher. Severn Trent Water: hard, 242 mg/l, 16.9 °Clark, 13.5 °dH, 24.2 °fH (Arnesby (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Anglian 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 LE16?
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 LE16 have lead pipes?
45% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of LE16 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: 44–45%. 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 LE16 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, Anglian Water contact page, Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent 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 v3.0

Data generation uk-2026-10-16-derive6

Check another postcode

By TapWaterData Editorial

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