The Truth About Your Water: Some UK Cities Contain Up To 56 Contaminants

Most people don’t think twice about the water they shower in, but our analysis of water quality across 25 major UK cities shows that some contain up to 56 different contaminants, most of which you’d never know were there.

 

While UK tap water is safe to drink, what’s in it can vary more than people realise. Alongside minerals, it can contain traces of chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides. Over time, these can contribute to dry skin, irritation and brittle hair.

 

If you’re dealing with skin or hair issues and can’t quite figure out why, your water could be playing a bigger role than you think. The first step is understanding what’s actually coming through your shower.

 

Use the interactive map below to explore water quality across all 25 cities, including contamination levels and water classification in each area.

Want to see exactly what’s in your water? Check your postcode with our free water quality report for a full breakdown of contaminants in your water supply.

What We Found

Here’s what stood out from the data:

  • Some UK cities contain up to 56 contaminants in their water
  • Welsh cities show consistently lower contamination levels than many cities in England
  • Cities like Leeds, Sheffield, Belfast, Bradford and Hull recorded higher contaminant levels than London
  • Water hardness doesn’t always reflect overall water quality
  • The number and type of contaminants can vary significantly even between nearby areas

How This Impacts You

The first step to taking care of your skin and hair is getting a clear picture of your local water quality. Once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s much easier to make changes that actually make a difference.

 

You’ll probably recognise how your hair feels after a swim. Dry, brittle, harder to manage. That’s down to chlorine. The levels are obviously higher in pools, but it’s still present in UK tap water to keep it safe to drink.

 

Even in smaller amounts, it can leave your skin feeling drier than usual and your hair a bit rough or lifeless. If things haven’t felt quite right lately, your water might be part of the reason.

 

And it’s not just chlorine. Minerals like calcium and magnesium, along with traces of metals, chemicals and other contaminants, can all play a part in how your water interacts with your skin and hair. Over time, these can build up, making hair harder to manage and leaving skin feeling dry or irritated.

 

It’s why more people are starting to look a bit closer at their water and find ways to reduce what they’re exposed to day to day.

 

One of the simplest ways to do that is by using a filtered shower head, designed to reduce chlorine and other contaminants before they reach your skin and hair.

 

If you’re unsure what’s in your water, checking your postcode is the quickest way to get a clear answer.

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Curo can help with

Frizzy Hair

dry skin

irritation

sensitive skin

Breakouts

damaged hair

chlorine exposure

hard water effects

Rashes

Real Customer Transformations

The Data

City Contaminants Classification Metals Count Chemicals Count Pesticides & Herbicides
Leeds56Hard111728
Sheffield56Hard111728
Bradford56Hard111728
Belfast56Hard111728
Hull56Hard111728
London52Hard121723
Reading52Hard121723
Newcastle48Slightly Hard81525
Liverpool47Slightly Hard121817
Manchester47Slightly Hard121817
Portsmouth40Hard121513
Birmingham29Hard12143
Glasgow29Soft12170
Edinburgh29Soft12170
Leicester29Hard12143
Coventry29Hard12143
Nottingham29Hard12143
Stoke29Hard12143
Brighton29Hard12143
Plymouth24Soft11130
Bristol21Hard10110
Cambridge20Hard1190
Cardiff16Slightly Hard4111
Swansea16Slightly Hard4111
Bangor16Slightly Hard4111

*This analysis is based on data compiled by Curo Skin using publicly available information from UK water boards. Data was reviewed across multiple regions to identify the number and types of contaminants present in local water supplies, alongside water classification. The findings presented reflect the most recent available data at the time of analysis.

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How Water Quality Varies Across UK Cities

Our data highlights clear regional differences in water quality across the UK. Cities in North and South Wales consistently show lower levels of contamination than many cities in England. For example, water in Cardiff and Swansea is slightly hard but contains around 16 contaminants, while cities like Newcastle and Liverpool, with similar water hardness, contain significantly more.

 

It also challenges the assumption that larger cities have poorer water quality. While London and Birmingham both have hard water, cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford show higher levels of contaminants, with some areas exceeding those found in the capital.

 

What stands out here is that water hardness alone doesn’t tell the full story. Two areas can have similar classifications but very different contaminant levels, which can change how that water interacts with your skin and hair on a daily basis.

 

This is where understanding your local water becomes more important. Rather than relying on general assumptions, seeing exactly what’s in your supply gives you a clearer idea of what you’re exposed to and whether steps like filtration are worth considering.

Why Use Our Free Water Report?

Water quality can vary more than people expect, even between nearby areas. Our free report shows you exactly which contaminants are present in your water, based on your postcode, so you can see what’s actually coming through your shower.

 

If you’re dealing with skin irritation or hair problems, it can help you better understand what might be contributing to it.

*This analysis is based on data compiled by Curo Skin using publicly available information from UK water boards. Data was reviewed across multiple regions to identify the number and types of contaminants present in local water supplies, alongside water classification. The findings presented reflect the most recent available data at the time of analysis.