Around 60% of the UK is classed as having hard or very hard water, with many areas exhibiting over 200mg of calcium carbonate per litre.

Scaleguard is the cost effective and simple solution to tackling the problems caused by hard water. Find out how Scaleguard works here.

Why does hard water only occur in some parts of the UK?

The geology of your area will determine whether you have a hard or soft water supply

The geology of the area from which your water supply comes, will determine the water hardness in your area.

Rainfall is naturally soft, but once it falls and begins to percolate through the rock, calcium, magnesium and other minerals are dissolved into it. Water with high mineral content is what we call hard water. This water is then held in aquifers, which water suppliers drill down into, to then pump the water out to be used in our homes.

The South and East of England has the hardest water

The chalk and limestone regions in the South and East of England surrender more minerals to water as it passes through than the granite regions in the North and West of the UK. Therefore, water in the South and East of England is much harder than in the rest of the UK.

But, traditionally soft water areas may now be experiencing harder water

UK towns and cities with the hardest water

Town / City	Water Hardness Level	Mg/l CaCo3
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	Hard water	279
Reading	Hard water	278
Slough	Very hard water	304
Swindon	Very hard water	349
Walton-on-Thames	Hard water	238

UK counties with the hardest water

County	Water Hardness Level
Bedfordshire	Hard to very hard water
Berkshire	Hard to very hard water
Buckinghamshire	Hard to very hard water
Cambridgeshire	Hard to very hard water
Dorset	Hard to very hard water
Essex	Hard to very hard water
Gloucestershire	Hard to very hard water
Greater London	Moderately hard water
Hampshire	Hard to very hard water
Hertfordshire	Hard to very hard water
Kent	Hard to very hard water
Oxfordshire	Hard to very hard water
Surrey	Hard to very hard water
Sussex	Hard to very hard water
Wiltshire	Hard to very hard water

I live in a hard water area, what do I do?

Hard water could be costing you hundreds of pounds a year in higher heating bills, appliance maintenance and replacement costs.

Find out more about the cost of hard water here .

Scaleguard is the cost-effective, easy-to-fit solution that will lower your energy bills by improving the efficiency of your heating system and appliances.

What’s more, Scaleguard is recommended by Thames Water. Their customers can even receive a discount on our Scaleguard product, meaning you don’t need to spend a fortune solving the problem of hard water.

Find out if Scaleguard is right for you,here.

Map Showing the rate of hardness in mg/l as Cacium in England and Wales