10th April 2024
A simple definition of water hardness is water that is high in dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium.
Some mineral-rich sources are very appreciated for their therapeutic virtues. But at home, hard water causes many unwanted effects. It is a problem that many households must deal with, both for living comfort and finances. Here’s a list of the hard water problems you may experience throughout your home:
Hard water areas can be measured in a variety of different ways. One part per million (PPM) is the main metric water hardness is tested through. It determines how many particles of hardness are dissolved in the water per million particles. Let’s look at hard water ratings in action:
| PPM | Water Hardness Level |
| 0 - 50 PPM | Soft |
| 51 - 100 PPM | Moderately soft |
| 101 - 150 PPM | Slightly hard |
| 151 – 200 PPM | Moderately hard |
| 201 – 275 PPM | Is hard |
| 276 – 350 PPM | Very hard |
When rainwater lands on the ground, it’s soft water. When it penetrates the ground, it passes through soft rocks, like limestone and chalk, collects these minerals which then adds to the hardness of the water. After that, the water goes into our water supply systems, then into our homes. Limescale and chalk in the ground can be higher in specific areas across UK. Over 13 million homes in the UK experience limescale in their water supply because they are in a hard water area.
The presence of limescale and chalk can be determined depending on the region you live in. A lot of the areas in England experience these types of minerals. The South East of England alongside London have the highest levels of hard water when compared to the rest of the UK. Scotland, Ireland, and Wales have soft or moderately soft water. Here’s a list of UK regions with the hardest water:
| Town/City | Water Hardness | PPM |
| Bath | Very hard water | 307 |
| Bristol | Hard water | 232 |
| Guildford | Hard water | 238 |
| Hemel Hempstead | Very hard water | 303 |
| Milton Keynes | Very hard water | 308 |
| Oxford | Very hard water | 279 |
| Reading | Very hard water | 278 |
| Slough | Very hard water | 304 |
| Swindon | Very hard water | 349 |
| Walton-on-Thames | Hard water | 238 |
If you want to know if your water is hard or soft, you can start by performing a very simple test:
Alternatively, you can check out our blog on household Hard Water Tests for more information. If the result is very foamy, your water is soft. On the contrary, if the water turns a milky colour with little foam, then the water is hard. This is a simple test to determine the hardness of your water. Once you recognise the hard water problems in your home and on your body, and the cost it incurs, you can take action to improve the water entering your home.
At home, hard water problems are typical in most homes and cause damage, discomfort, and extra expense. It can cost you hundreds of pounds a year in heating bills, appliance maintenance and replacement costs. Water hardness can make a big difference to the taste of your water, clothes become more difficult to wash and it stops soap from lathering too. So, what’s the solution?
In short, installing a water softener can go a long way in reducing these hard water minerals in your water supply. Hague Quality Water have a comprehensive range of whole house water softeners that can be fully customisable to your home’s water needs.
When you install a Hague Quality Water Softener, you’ll experience several benefits throughout your home:
After submitting your details, here’s what will happen next: