SY7 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.
SY7 tap water quality report · 2026
Hardness
Hard
Bishops Castle (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026
Details
Bishops Castle (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026
Hosepipe ban
Not available
We can't confirm the hosepipe-ban status for Severn Trent Water from the information we hold.
Details
We can't confirm the hosepipe-ban status for Severn Trent Water from the information we hold.
Storm overflows
5 overflows within 10 km of SY7 centre
93 spills in 2025
Details
93 spills in 2025
Lead pipes
61% built before 1973
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of SY7 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: 58–61%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Details
Estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of SY7 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: 58–61%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Who supplies water in SY7
Supplies 498 of 567 postcodes (88%)
Sewerage: Usually Severn Trent Water — they provide water and sewerage across most of their area. Your water bill confirms yours.
Supplies 65 of 567 postcodes (11%)
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water's phone number isn't in our records; their contact page lists it.
Sewerage: Usually Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water — they provide water and sewerage across most of their area. Your water bill confirms yours.
Also supplied here: Hafren Dyfrdwy (1 of 567 postcodes (0%))
Boundary or unplaced: 3 postcodes
Drinking-water test record
Severn Trent Water: 498 of 567 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.
| Parameter | Failed tests |
|---|---|
| Benzo[a]Pyrene (total) | Failed tests: 1 |
| E. coli (confirmed) | Failed tests: 3 |
| Iron | Failed tests: 15 |
| Lead | Failed tests: 4 |
| Manganese | Failed tests: 2 |
| Nickel | Failed tests: 6 |
| Total coliforms (confirmed) | Failed tests: 8 |
| Turbidity – indicator | Failed 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
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water: 65 of 567 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.
| Parameter | Failed tests |
|---|---|
| Coliform bacteria (indicator) | Failed tests: 24 |
| E. coli (confirmed) | Failed tests: 2 |
| Lead | Failed tests: 2 |
| Manganese | Failed tests: 1 |
| Odour | Failed 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
Hafren Dyfrdwy: 1 of 567 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.
| Parameter | Failed tests |
|---|---|
| Coliform bacteria (indicator) | Failed tests: 9 |
| Colour | Failed tests: 1 |
| Total coliforms (confirmed) | Failed tests: 1 |
| Turbidity – indicator | Failed 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
How hard is the water in SY7?
Across SY7's supply zones, hardness ranges from 56 mg/l (soft) to 240 mg/l (hard). Those 5 zones cover 85% of its postcodes.
5 identified supply zones in SY7
Bishops Castle · Severn Trent Water (247 of 567 postcodes)
240 mg/l · 16.8 °Clark · 13.4 °dH · 24.0 °fH
Typical value.
Bishops Castle (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
Craven Arms · Severn Trent Water (206 of 567 postcodes)
185 mg/l · 13.0 °Clark · 10.3 °dH · 18.5 °fH
Typical value.
Craven Arms (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
Ludlow · Severn Trent Water (19 of 567 postcodes)
167 mg/l · 11.7 °Clark · 9.4 °dH · 16.7 °fH
Typical value.
Ludlow (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026
Source: Severn Trent Water — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 1 October 2026
Church Stretton · Severn Trent Water (9 of 567 postcodes)
192 mg/l · 13.5 °Clark · 10.8 °dH · 19.2 °fH
Typical value.
Church Stretton (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
Newtown · Hafren Dyfrdwy (1 of 567 postcodes)
56 mg/l · 3.9 °Clark · 3.1 °dH · 5.6 °fH
Typical value.
Newtown (supply zone) · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026
Source: Hafren Dyfrdwy — dated 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, read 1 October 2026
82 postcodes without an identified supply zone
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (65 of 567 postcodes)
We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
Severn Trent Water (17 of 567 postcodes)
We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report.
Storm overflows nearby
5 overflows within 10 km of SY7 centre · 93 spills in 2025
SY7 (district) · 2025
Source: Environment Agency EDM annual return 2025 — dated 20 August 2026, read 13 October 2026
Overflows here are run by Severn Trent Water.
5 of these were monitored for only part of 2025.
Nearest 5 shown
CRAVEN ARMS - STOKESAY CSO
Into RIVER ONNY · 4 km from the centre of SY7
19 spills · 34 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025
LYDBURY NORTH STW
Into TRIB OF RIVER KEMP · 6.4 km from the centre of SY7
0 spills · 0 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025
HIGH STREET CSO
Into RIVER TEME · 7.4 km from the centre of SY7
41 spills · 89.1 hours · Monitored 100% of 2025
WATLING STREET CSO
Into RIVER TEME · 7.4 km from the centre of SY7
24 spills · 114.5 hours · Monitored 96.8% of 2025
BUCKNELL TERMINAL PUMPING STATION
Into RIVER REDLAKE · 8.3 km from the centre of SY7
9 spills · 80.1 hours · Monitored 93.4% 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
61% built before 1973
61% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test.
Homes in the parts of SY7 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: 58–61%. England and Wales: 61% (2026).
Older homes are more likely to have lead pipes. Only a test tells you whether yours does.
SY7 (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 SY7
- Is the water in SY7 hard or soft?
- Severn Trent Water: hard, 240 mg/l, 16.8 °Clark, 13.4 °dH, 24.0 °fH (Bishops Castle (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Severn Trent Water: moderately hard, 185 mg/l, 13.0 °Clark, 10.3 °dH, 18.5 °fH (Craven Arms (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water: We do not have a verified hardness figure for this area. Ask your water company for its water quality report. Severn Trent Water: moderately hard, 167 mg/l, 11.7 °Clark, 9.4 °dH, 16.7 °fH (Ludlow (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. Severn Trent Water: moderately hard, 192 mg/l, 13.5 °Clark, 10.8 °dH, 19.2 °fH (Church Stretton (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value. Hafren Dyfrdwy: soft, 56 mg/l, 3.9 °Clark, 3.1 °dH, 5.6 °fH (Newtown (supply zone), 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026). Typical value.
- What does the drinking water regulator's record show for SY7?
- 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 SY7 have lead pipes?
- 61% of homes here were built before 1973 — estimate, not a test. Homes in the parts of SY7 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: 58–61%. 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 SY7 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
- Severn Trent Water contact page ↗ · 13 October 2026 · read 13 October 2026
- DWI england 2025, Annex B ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- DWI england 2025, national compliance ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- DWI wales 2025, Annex B ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- DWI wales 2025, national compliance ↗ · 2025 · read 13 October 2026
- Severn Trent Water ↗ · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026 · read 30 September 2026
- Hafren Dyfrdwy ↗ · 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026 · read 1 October 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
Severn Trent Water contact page, Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy: 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