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Estepona

7 water networks · Costa del Sol, Málaga

⚠ One or more networks: NO APTA
9
Overall / 10
🛡️
Safety
9.4
All bacteria, chemicals, and regulated substances
💎
Hardness
8.9
Mineral content — affects limescale, taste, appliances
👅
Taste & Comfort
8.3
pH, chlorine, clarity, odour, and colour

About the water supply in Estepona

Estepona's tap water is certified as not safe to drink, with overall quality rated 9/10. The main concern is free chlorine, which affects 5 of the 7 networks, potentially impacting taste and safety for drinking. Other issues include hardness and aluminium, but these only affect some networks, so many residents may still enjoy good quality water in their homes.

How to read these scores: 10 = perfect, 0 = at or over the legal limit. A score of 0 does not necessarily mean the water is unsafe — it means that specific parameter is at its maximum legal level. The official SINAC certification (APTA / NO APTA) is the authoritative safety indicator. Only readings from the last year are included — older data is excluded to keep scores current.

⚠ Parameters scoring below 8 — explained

👅 Chlorine taste/smell
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 0.2–1.0 mg/L required
0/10 Needs attention
0 mg/L. Chlorine is legally required (minimum 0.2 mg/L) to keep water safe as it travels through pipes. Below the recommended minimum — disinfection could be insufficient for long pipe runs.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED ATALAYA 5/10 0.1 10/06/2026
RED ESTEPONA ESTE 0/10 0 16/06/2026
RED ESTEPONA PARQUE NATURALEZA 6/10 0.7 27/04/2026
RED ESTEPONA VELERÍN 0/10 0 27/05/2026
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 4/10 0.8 15/07/2026
💎 Water hardness
Category: Hardness · Legal limit: no legal limit
2/10 Needs attention
411 mg/L CaCO3 — classified as extremely hard. Very hard water — significant limescale buildup on appliances. Water softener or filter recommended for kettles and washing machines. Safe to drink but has a mineral taste. There is no legal limit for hardness as it poses no health risk.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED DERIV D5 OESTE 6/10 270 04/02/2025 11:40
RED ATALAYA 2/10 411 30/03/2026
RED ESTEPONA CASCO-OESTE 6/10 291 20/01/2026
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 6/10 257 24/04/2026
👅 Aluminium
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 200 µg/L
4.9/10 Needs attention
102 µg/L (limit 200 µg/L). Moderate — can occasionally cause slight greyish tint or flat taste.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED DERIV D5 OESTE 4.9/10 102 04/02/2025 11:30
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 7.5/10 50 24/04/2026
👅 Manganese
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 50 µg/L
5.2/10 Fair
24 µg/L (limit 50 µg/L). Low to moderate.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED DERIV D5 OESTE 5.2/10 24 04/02/2025 11:30
RED ESTEPONA ESTE 5.8/10 21 10/06/2026
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 7/10 15 24/04/2026
🛡️ Trihalomethanes (THMs)
Category: Safety · Legal limit: 100 µg/L
5.5/10 Fair
45 µg/L — 45% of the 100 µg/L legal limit. Trihalomethanes form when chlorine (used to disinfect water) reacts with natural organic matter. They are safe at these levels but are a reason some people prefer to filter tap water. Moderate level — within legal limits but noticeable to sensitive people.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED DERIV D5 OESTE 5.5/10 45 04/02/2025 11:30
RED ESTEPONA CASCO-OESTE 7.2/10 28 20/04/2026
RED ESTEPONA PARQUE NATURALEZA 6.9/10 31 13/05/2025 08:00
RED ESTEPONA VELERÍN 6.5/10 35 27/05/2026
👅 Water clarity
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 4 NTU
6/10 Fair
1.6 NTU (limit 4 NTU). Slight haze — mostly clear but occasionally noticeable in a glass.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED DERIV D5 OESTE 6/10 1.6 14/03/2025 10:43
RED ESTEPONA ESTE 7.5/10 1 16/06/2026
👅 Colour
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 15 mg Pt-Co/L
6/10 Fair
6 mg Pt-Co/L (limit 15). Very slight tint — only visible in a large glass.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED ESTEPONA CASCO-OESTE 6/10 6 16/06/2026 10:05
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 7.3/10 4 15/07/2026
👅 Odour
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 3 (dilution index)
6.7/10 Fair
1 on a 0–3 scale (0 = no odour). Very slight odour — only perceptible undiluted. Most people won't notice when drinking.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED ATALAYA 6.7/10 1 10/06/2026
RED ESTEPONA CASCO-OESTE 6.7/10 1 16/06/2026 10:05
RED ESTEPONA ESTE 6.7/10 1 16/06/2026
RED ESTEPONA VELERÍN 6.7/10 1 27/05/2026
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 6.7/10 1 15/07/2026
👅 Taste
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 3 (dilution index)
6.7/10 Fair
1 on a 0–3 scale (0 = neutral). Very mild taste detectable — barely noticeable when drinking normally.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED ATALAYA 6.7/10 1 10/06/2026
RED ESTEPONA CASCO-OESTE 6.7/10 1 16/06/2026 10:05
RED ESTEPONA ESTE 6.7/10 1 16/06/2026
RED ESTEPONA PARQUE NATURALEZA 6.7/10 1 27/04/2026
RED ESTEPONA VELERÍN 6.7/10 1 27/05/2026
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 6.7/10 1 15/07/2026
🛡️ Arsenic
Category: Safety · Legal limit: 10 µg/L
7/10 Good
3 µg/L (limit 10 µg/L). Present but within legal limits.
Network: PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA · Value: 3 · Date: 24/04/2026
🛡️ Mercury
Category: Safety · Legal limit: 1 µg/L
7/10 Good
0.3 µg/L (limit 1 µg/L). Detectable — monitor.
Network: PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA · Value: 0.3 · Date: 24/04/2026
🛡️ Cadmium
Category: Safety · Legal limit: 5 µg/L
7/10 Good
1.5 µg/L (limit 5 µg/L). Trace levels only.
Network: PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA · Value: 1.5 · Date: 24/04/2026
🛡️ Total pesticides
Category: Safety · Legal limit: 0.5 µg/L
7/10 Good
0.15 µg/L detected — 30% of the 0.5 µg/L legal limit. A small trace of pesticides is present but within safe limits. This is common in areas near agricultural land.
Network: PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA · Value: 0.15 · Date: 24/04/2026
🛡️ Uranium
Category: Safety · Legal limit: 30 µg/L
7/10 Good
9 µg/L (limit 30 µg/L). Low to moderate.
Network: PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA · Value: 9 · Date: 24/04/2026
👅 Ammonia
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 0.5 mg/L
7/10 Good
0.15 mg/L (limit 0.5 mg/L). Low — no noticeable taste or smell.
Network: PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA · Value: 0.15 · Date: 29/06/2026
💎 Total dissolved minerals
Category: Hardness · Legal limit: 2500 µS/cm
7.2/10 Good
1060 µS/cm (limit 2500 µS/cm). Conductivity measures the overall dissolved mineral content. High mineral content — noticeably mineralized, may affect taste.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED ATALAYA 7.9/10 913 10/06/2026
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 7.2/10 1060 29/06/2026
💎 Chloride (salt)
Category: Hardness · Legal limit: 250 mg/L
7.2/10 Good
69 mg/L (limit 250 mg/L). Chloride gives water a salty taste above ~250 mg/L. Low — barely perceptible.
Network: RED ATALAYA · Value: 69 · Date: 10/06/2026
💎 Fluoride
Category: Hardness · Legal limit: 1.5 mg/L
7.3/10 Good
0.4 mg/L (optimal for dental health: 0.5–0.7 mg/L, legal limit 1.5 mg/L). Within the optimal dental health range — good for teeth.
Network: PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA · Value: 0.4 · Date: 24/04/2026
🛡️ Nickel
Category: Safety · Legal limit: 20 µg/L
7.5/10 Good
5 µg/L (limit 20 µg/L). Moderate.
Affected networks
Network Score Value Date
RED DERIV D5 OESTE 7.5/10 5 04/02/2025 11:30
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 7.5/10 5 24/04/2026
👅 Iron
Category: Taste · Legal limit: 200 µg/L
7.5/10 Good
50 µg/L (limit 200 µg/L). Low — unlikely to cause issues.
Network: PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA · Value: 50 · Date: 24/04/2026

Water networks breakdown

Network Score 🛡️ Safety 💎 Hardness 👅 Taste & Comfort Last tested
RED DERIV D5 OESTE 9.1
RED ATALAYA 8.8
30/03/2026
RED ESTEPONA CASCO-OESTE 9.3
18/05/2026
RED ESTEPONA ESTE 9.2
16/06/2026
RED ESTEPONA PARQUE NATURALEZA 9.4
27/04/2026
RED ESTEPONA VELERÍN
⚠ NO APTA
9.2
27/04/2026
PARQUE ANTENA-ESTEPONA-RED PARQUE ANTENA 8
29/06/2026

Related articles

Is tap water safe to drink?
Guide for tourists, expats and residents
Hard water guide
Limescale, appliances and solutions
Chlorine in tap water
Why it tastes different and how to fix it