Water hardness in the UK: every town compared
Water hardness is set by geology: rain picks up calcium and magnesium as it passes through the ground, so areas supplied from chalk and limestone have hard water while areas supplied from surface water over harder rock have soft water. Hardness is not a health issue — hard water is safe to drink — but it determines how quickly limescale builds up in kettles, boilers, showers and appliances. The comparison below covers all 583 towns WaterTrust lists, using the four bands reported by water suppliers. Each town links to its local page, which also names the water supplier and typical prices for local work.
Very Hard water — 104 towns (18%)
Heavy limescale. Kettles, boilers and appliances scale quickly; water softeners and regular descaling are common.
Addlestone (Surrey) · Amersham (Buckinghamshire) · Ampthill (Bedfordshire) · Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire) · Basildon (Essex) · Beaconsfield (Buckinghamshire) · Beccles (Suffolk) · Bedford (Bedfordshire) · Biggleswade (Bedfordshire) · Bletchley (Buckinghamshire) · Borehamwood (Hertfordshire) · Boston (Lincolnshire) · Brackley (Northamptonshire) · Braintree (Essex) · Brentwood (Essex) · Buckingham (Buckinghamshire) · Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk) · Cambourne (Cambridgeshire) · Cambridge (Cambridgeshire) · Chatteris (Cambridgeshire) · Chelmsford (Essex) · Chesham (Buckinghamshire) · Clacton-on-Sea (Essex) · Cleethorpes (Lincolnshire) · Colchester (Essex) · Corby (Northamptonshire) · Cromer (Norfolk) · Daventry (Northamptonshire) · Dereham (Norfolk) · Diss (Norfolk) · Dover (Kent) · Dunstable (Bedfordshire) · Ely (Cambridgeshire) · Felixstowe (Suffolk) · Flitwick (Bedfordshire) · Folkestone (Kent) · Gainsborough (Lincolnshire) · Grantham (Lincolnshire) · Grays (Essex) · Great Yarmouth (Norfolk) · Grimsby (Lincolnshire) · Harlow (Essex) · Hatfield (Hertfordshire) · Haverhill (Suffolk) · Hemel Hempstead (Hertfordshire) · Hertford (Hertfordshire) · High Wycombe (Buckinghamshire) · Hitchin (Hertfordshire) · Houghton Regis (Bedfordshire) · Huntingdon (Cambridgeshire) · Ilford (London) · Ipswich (Suffolk) · Kettering (Northamptonshire) · King’s Lynn (Norfolk) · Leighton Buzzard (Bedfordshire) · Letchworth (Hertfordshire) · Lincoln (Lincolnshire) · Louth (Lincolnshire) · Lowestoft (Suffolk) · Luton (Bedfordshire) · March (Cambridgeshire) · Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire) · Newmarket (Suffolk) · Northampton (Northamptonshire) · Norwich (Norfolk) · Oakham (Rutland) · Oundle (Northamptonshire) · Peterborough (Cambridgeshire) · Rayleigh (Essex) · Romford (London) · Rushden (Northamptonshire) · Sandy (Bedfordshire) · Scunthorpe (Lincolnshire) · Shefford (Bedfordshire) · Sheringham (Norfolk) · Skegness (Lincolnshire) · Sleaford (Lincolnshire) · Slough (Berkshire) · Southend-on-Sea (Essex) · Spalding (Lincolnshire) · St Albans (Hertfordshire) · St Ives (Cambridgeshire) · St Neots (Cambridgeshire) · Staines-upon-Thames (Surrey) · Stevenage (Hertfordshire) · Stowmarket (Suffolk) · Sudbury (Suffolk) · Swaffham (Norfolk) · Swindon (Wiltshire) · Thetford (Norfolk) · Towcester (Northamptonshire) · Uppingham (Rutland) · Uxbridge (London) · Walton-on-Thames (Surrey) · Watford (Hertfordshire) · Wellingborough (Northamptonshire) · Welwyn (Hertfordshire) · Wembley (London) · Weybridge (Surrey) · Winslow (Buckinghamshire) · Wisbech (Cambridgeshire) · Witham (Essex) · Woking (Surrey) · Wymondham (Norfolk)
Hard water — 302 towns (52%)
Noticeable limescale on heating elements and taps over time. High limescale risk for boilers and appliances.
Abingdon-on-Thames (Oxfordshire) · Acton (London) · Alcester (Warwickshire) · Aldershot (Hampshire) · Aldgate (London) · Amesbury (Wiltshire) · Andover (Hampshire) · Archway (London) · Arundel (West Sussex) · Ascot (Berkshire) · Ashford (Kent) · Atherstone (Warwickshire) · Balham (London) · Banbury (Oxfordshire) · Barking (London) · Barnet (London) · Basingstoke (Hampshire) · Bath (Somerset) · Battersea (London) · Beckton (London) · Bedworth (Warwickshire) · Bellingham (London) · Bermondsey (London) · Bethnal Green (London) · Beverley (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Bexhill-on-Sea (East Sussex) · Bexley (London) · Bicester (Oxfordshire) · Blandford Forum (Dorset) · Bloomsbury (London) · Bognor Regis (West Sussex) · Bounds Green (London) · Bow (London) · Bracknell (Berkshire) · Brentford (London) · Bridgwater (Somerset) · Bridlington (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Bridport (Dorset) · Brighton (East Sussex) · Bristol (Bristol) · Brixton (London) · Bromley (London) · Bromsgrove (Worcestershire) · Bromyard (Herefordshire) · Burgess Hill (West Sussex) · Burton upon Trent (Staffordshire) · Calne (Wiltshire) · Camberley (Surrey) · Camberwell (London) · Camden (London) · Canary Wharf (London) · Cannock (Staffordshire) · Canterbury (Kent) · Carterton (Oxfordshire) · Catford (London) · Central London (London) · Chalk Farm (London) · Chatham/Rochester (Kent) · Chelsea (London) · Cheshunt (Hertfordshire) · Chesterfield (Derbyshire) · Chichester (West Sussex) · Chingford (London) · Chippenham (Wiltshire) · Chiswick (London) · Cirencester (Gloucestershire) · City of London (London) · Clapham (London) · Clevedon (Somerset) · Colindale (London) · Cottingham (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Covent Garden (London) · Coventry (West Midlands) · Cowes (Isle of Wight) · Crawley (West Sussex) · Crouch End (London) · Crowborough (East Sussex) · Croydon (London) · Crystal Palace (London) · Dagenham (London) · Dartford (Kent) · Devizes (Wiltshire) · Didcot (Oxfordshire) · Dorchester (Dorset) · Driffield (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Droitwich Spa (Worcestershire) · Dulwich (London) · Ealing (London) · East Cowes (Isle of Wight) · East Finchley (London) · East Grinstead (West Sussex) · East London (London) · Eastbourne (East Sussex) · Eastleigh (Hampshire) · Edgware (London) · Eltham (London) · Enfield (London) · Epsom (Surrey) · Evesham (Worcestershire) · Fareham (Hampshire) · Farnborough (Hampshire) · Farnham (Surrey) · Farringdon (London) · Feltham (London) · Finchley (London) · Fitzrovia (London) · Forest Gate (London) · Forest Hill (London) · Freshwater (Isle of Wight) · Friern Barnet (London) · Frome (Somerset) · Fulham (London) · Gillingham (Dorset) · Glastonbury (Somerset) · Golders Green (London) · Goole (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Gosport (Hampshire) · Gravesend (Kent) · Greenford (London) · Greenwich (London) · Guildford (Surrey) · Hackney (London) · Hailsham (East Sussex) · Hammersmith (London) · Hampstead (London) · Hanwell (London) · Harlesden (London) · Harrogate (North Yorkshire) · Harrow (London) · Hartlepool (Durham) · Hastings (East Sussex) · Havant (Hampshire) · Havering (London) · Hayes (London) · Haywards Heath (West Sussex) · Henley-on-Thames (Oxfordshire) · Hereford (Herefordshire) · Herne Hill (London) · Hessle (East Riding of Yorkshire) · High Barnet (London) · Highgate (London) · Hillingdon (London) · Holborn (London) · Homerton (London) · Hornsea (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Hornsey (London) · Horsham (West Sussex) · Hounslow (London) · Hull (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Hyde Park (London) · Isleworth (London) · Islington (London) · Kenilworth (Warwickshire) · Kennington (London) · Kensington (London) · Kentish Town (London) · Kew (London) · Kidderminster (Worcestershire) · Kingston (London) · Kingston upon Thames (London) · Kington (Herefordshire) · Knaresborough (North Yorkshire) · Knightsbridge (London) · Leamington Spa (Warwickshire) · Leatherhead (Surrey) · Leominster (Herefordshire) · Lewes (East Sussex) · Lewisham (London) · Leyton (London) · Leytonstone (London) · Lichfield (Staffordshire) · Limehouse (London) · Littlehampton (West Sussex) · London (London) · Maida Vale (London) · Maidenhead (Berkshire) · Maidstone (Kent) · Malton (North Yorkshire) · Malvern (Worcestershire) · Manor Park (London) · Margate (Kent) · Market Weighton (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Marlborough (Wiltshire) · Marlow (Buckinghamshire) · Marylebone (London) · Mayfair (London) · Melksham (Wiltshire) · Merton (London) · Mill Hill (London) · Mitcham (London) · Muswell Hill (London) · Nailsea (Somerset) · Nailsworth (Gloucestershire) · Newbury (Berkshire) · Newhaven (East Sussex) · Newport (Isle of Wight) · Norbury (London) · North London (London) · Northallerton (North Yorkshire) · Northolt (London) · Nuneaton (Warwickshire) · Oxford (Oxfordshire) · Paddington (London) · Palmers Green (London) · Peckham (London) · Penge (London) · Perivale (London) · Plaistow (London) · Pocklington (East Riding of Yorkshire) · Poplar (London) · Portsmouth (Hampshire) · Putney (London) · Ramsgate (Kent) · Reading (Berkshire) · Redbridge (London) · Redditch (Worcestershire) · Redhill (Surrey) · Reigate (Surrey) · Richmond (North Yorkshire) · Richmond upon Thames (London) · Ripon (North Yorkshire) · Roehampton (London) · Ross-on-Wye (Herefordshire) · Rugby (Warwickshire) · Ryde (Isle of Wight) · Rye (East Sussex) · Salisbury (Wiltshire) · Sandhurst (Berkshire) · Sandown (Isle of Wight) · Scarborough (North Yorkshire) · Seaford (East Sussex) · Selby (North Yorkshire) · Sevenoaks (Kent) · Shadwell (London) · Shanklin (Isle of Wight) · Shepherd’s Bush (London) · Sherborne (Dorset) · Shoreham-by-Sea (West Sussex) · Skipton (North Yorkshire) · Soho (London) · South London (London) · South Norwood (London) · Southall (London) · Southampton (Hampshire) · Southgate (London) · St James’s (London) · Stepney (London) · Stoke Newington (London) · Stourbridge (West Midlands) · Stourport-on-Severn (Worcestershire) · Stratford (London) · Stratford-upon-Avon (Warwickshire) · Streatham (London) · Street (Somerset) · Sutton (London) · Swanage (Dorset) · Sydenham (London) · Tamworth (Staffordshire) · Taunton (Somerset) · Thame (Oxfordshire) · Thatcham (Berkshire) · Tonbridge (Kent) · Tooting (London) · Tottenham (London) · Trowbridge (Wiltshire) · Tunbridge Wells (Kent) · Twickenham (London) · Uckfield (East Sussex) · Upton Park (London) · Uttoxeter (Staffordshire) · Ventnor (Isle of Wight) · Victoria (London) · Walthamstow (London) · Wandsworth (London) · Wantage (Oxfordshire) · Warminster (Wiltshire) · Warwick (Warwickshire) · Wells (Somerset) · West Bromwich (West Midlands) · West Ealing (London) · West London (London) · West Norwood (London) · Westminster (London) · Weston-super-Mare (Somerset) · Weymouth (Dorset) · Whetstone (London) · Whitby (North Yorkshire) · White City (London) · Whitechapel (London) · Whitehall (London) · Wimbledon (London) · Winchester (Hampshire) · Windsor (Berkshire) · Witney (Oxfordshire) · Wokingham (Berkshire) · Wood Green (London) · Woolwich (London) · Worcester (Worcestershire) · Worthing (West Sussex) · Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) · Yeovil (Somerset) · York (North Yorkshire)
Moderately Hard water — 85 towns (15%)
Some scale build-up, developing more slowly. Medium limescale risk.
Alfreton (Derbyshire) · Alnwick (Northumberland) · Ashby-de-la-Zouch (Leicestershire) · Ashington (Northumberland) · Beeston (Nottinghamshire) · Berwick-upon-Tweed (Northumberland) · Bishop Auckland (Durham) · Blyth (Northumberland) · Bournemouth (Dorset) · Bridgnorth (Shropshire) · Buxton (Derbyshire) · Cheltenham (Gloucestershire) · Chester (Cheshire) · Chester-le-Street (Durham) · Christchurch (Dorset) · Church Stretton (Shropshire) · Cinderford (Gloucestershire) · Coalville (Leicestershire) · Coleford (Gloucestershire) · Consett (Durham) · Cramlington (Northumberland) · Darlington (Durham) · Derby (Derbyshire) · Dudley (West Midlands) · Durham (Durham) · Dursley (Gloucestershire) · Gateshead (Tyne and Wear) · Glossop (Derbyshire) · Gloucester (Gloucestershire) · Halesowen (West Midlands) · Hexham (Northumberland) · Hinckley (Leicestershire) · Hucknall (Nottinghamshire) · Ilkeston (Derbyshire) · Jarrow (Tyne and Wear) · Kidsgrove (Staffordshire) · Kirkby-in-Ashfield (Nottinghamshire) · Ledbury (Herefordshire) · Leek (Staffordshire) · Leicester (Leicestershire) · Long Eaton (Derbyshire) · Loughborough (Leicestershire) · Ludlow (Shropshire) · Lydney (Gloucestershire) · Mansfield (Nottinghamshire) · Market Drayton (Shropshire) · Market Harborough (Leicestershire) · Matlock (Derbyshire) · Melton Mowbray (Leicestershire) · Morpeth (Northumberland) · Newark-on-Trent (Nottinghamshire) · Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear) · Newcastle-under-Lyme (Staffordshire) · Newport (Shropshire) · Newton Aycliffe (Durham) · North Shields (Tyne and Wear) · Nottingham (Nottinghamshire) · Oswestry (Shropshire) · Peterlee (Durham) · Ponteland (Northumberland) · Poole (Dorset) · Prudhoe (Northumberland) · Retford (Nottinghamshire) · Ripley (Derbyshire) · Seaham (Durham) · Shrewsbury (Shropshire) · South Shields (Tyne and Wear) · Stafford (Staffordshire) · Stockton-on-Tees (Durham) · Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire) · Stroud (Gloucestershire) · Sunderland (Tyne and Wear) · Sutton-in-Ashfield (Nottinghamshire) · Swadlincote (Derbyshire) · Telford (Shropshire) · Tewkesbury (Gloucestershire) · Tynemouth (Tyne and Wear) · Wallsend (Tyne and Wear) · Walsall (West Midlands) · Washington (Tyne and Wear) · West Bridgford (Nottinghamshire) · Whitchurch (Shropshire) · Wigston (Leicestershire) · Wolverhampton (West Midlands) · Worksop (Nottinghamshire)
Soft water — 92 towns (16%)
Little or no limescale. Low risk for boilers and appliances; soap lathers easily.
Accrington (Lancashire) · Altrincham (Manchester) · Ashton-under-Lyne (Manchester) · Barnsley (South Yorkshire) · Barnstaple (Devon) · Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria) · Batley (West Yorkshire) · Bideford (Devon) · Birkenhead (Merseyside) · Birmingham (West Midlands) · Blackburn (Lancashire) · Blackpool (Lancashire) · Bodmin (Cornwall) · Bolton (Manchester) · Bootle (Merseyside) · Bradford (West Yorkshire) · Burnley (Lancashire) · Bury (Manchester) · Camborne (Cornwall) · Carlisle (Cumbria) · Castleford (West Yorkshire) · Chorley (Lancashire) · Clitheroe (Lancashire) · Colne (Lancashire) · Congleton (Cheshire) · Crewe (Cheshire) · Crosby (Merseyside) · Dawlish (Devon) · Dewsbury (West Yorkshire) · Dinnington (South Yorkshire) · Doncaster (South Yorkshire) · Ellesmere Port (Cheshire) · Exeter (Devon) · Exmouth (Devon) · Falmouth (Cornwall) · Fleetwood (Lancashire) · Formby (Merseyside) · Halifax (West Yorkshire) · Huddersfield (West Yorkshire) · Huyton (Merseyside) · Keighley (West Yorkshire) · Kendal (Cumbria) · Keswick (Cumbria) · Kirkby (Merseyside) · Lancaster (Lancashire) · Launceston (Cornwall) · Leeds (West Yorkshire) · Liskeard (Cornwall) · Liverpool (Merseyside) · Macclesfield (Cheshire) · Manchester (Manchester) · Maryport (Cumbria) · Mexborough (South Yorkshire) · Newquay (Cornwall) · Newton Abbot (Devon) · Newton-le-Willows (Merseyside) · Northwich (Cheshire) · Oldham (Manchester) · Ormskirk (Lancashire) · Paignton (Devon) · Penrith (Cumbria) · Penzance (Cornwall) · Plymouth (Devon) · Pontefract (West Yorkshire) · Prescot (Merseyside) · Preston (Lancashire) · Redruth (Cornwall) · Rochdale (Manchester) · Rotherham (South Yorkshire) · Runcorn (Cheshire) · Salford (Manchester) · Sheffield (South Yorkshire) · Skelmersdale (Lancashire) · Solihull (West Midlands) · Southport (Merseyside) · St Austell (Cornwall) · St Helens (Merseyside) · Stockport (Manchester) · Sutton Coldfield (West Midlands) · Tiverton (Devon) · Torquay (Devon) · Truro (Cornwall) · Ulverston (Cumbria) · Wakefield (West Yorkshire) · Wallasey (Merseyside) · Warrington (Cheshire) · Whitehaven (Cumbria) · Widnes (Cheshire) · Wigan (Manchester) · Windermere (Cumbria) · Winsford (Cheshire) · Workington (Cumbria)
See also: Water hardness by town · UK water suppliers · Wastewater companies · All areas we cover