Water hardness is a crucial aspect of water quality, impacting everything from household chores to personal health and even the lifespan of your appliances. Understanding whether you’re in a hard or soft water area is essential for various reasons. So, wherever you live, we’ll look at exactly where the hard and soft water areas are across the UK.

Hard and soft water areas in the UK

Water hardness is determined by the level of minerals in the water, primarily calcium and magnesium, in surface water and groundwater sources. The UK has a broad range of water hardness, influenced by ancient geological formations and regional characteristics. Let’s look at the seven main UK regions in more detail.

The north of England

Starting in the north, areas such as Cumbria, Lancashire, and parts of Yorkshire often experience soft water due to the underlying limestone and sandstone. These geological formations result in lower mineral content. However, Northumberland has medium to hard water, while parts of North and East Yorkshire are used to hard to very hard water.

The Midlands

Moving south into the Midlands, water hardness can vary between medium and hard water. Counties like Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Warwickshire all tend to experience medium to hard water, while Staffordshire has much harder water, all influenced by the underlying rock formations. 

East Anglia

List most of eastern England, East Anglia, characterised by its flat landscapes, tends to experience very hard water. The chalk and limestone deposits in this region contribute to the increased mineral content of the water. People in cities like Norwich and Cambridge often encounter the challenges associated with hard water, such as limescale buildup in appliances.

London and the Southeast

In the capital and surrounding areas, water hardness is quite uniform in its hardness. Most of central and greater London, in and around the M25, have hard to very hard water. It’s much the same for many of the home counties – Surrey, Kent, and Sussex also experience a mix of hard to very hard water influenced by the underground chalk aquifers.

The South and Southwest

Heading towards the south, the water hardness is a mixed bag. Water in Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Dorset is generally hard to very hard, while Somerset is medium to hard. From Exeter to Bournemouth, the Jurassic coastline is known for its geological diversity, impacting water hardness. But while parts of Dorset may experience hard water, other areas like Devon and Cornwall have softer water.

Wales

With its mountainous terrain, Wales often has softer water, particularly in the western and southern regions. While much of eastern Wales, including Shropshire and Herefordshire, has softer water, it’s still medium to hard.

Scotland

Despite being known for its rugged landscapes, Scotland produces a much softer water hardness. With most water being supplied from lochs, rivers and other surface water sources, these have naturally softer mineral content. Any water drawn from groundwater sources is also softer as it hasn’t passed through chalk or limestone.

Stay naturally refreshed with Thirsty Work

Understanding where the hard and soft water areas are in the UK is crucial for homeowners and businesses alike. And it’s often the case for many people that the harder the water, the more off-putting the taste – which is where a bottled water cooler from Thirsty Work can help you.

Our reusable and recyclable water bottles contain groundwater from our natural spring source along the Wenlock Edge in Shropshire. This naturally filtered, soft water has enviable mineral content, tastes delicately sweet, and is just the refreshing hit you need at home or work throughout the day. 

Talk to our customer service team today about getting a quote or starting your water cooler 10-day free trial. Call Thirsty Work on 01392 877 172, email hello@thirstywork.com, or send us a message.