27mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across AB districts
Is Aberdeen a hard water area?
No. Tap water across the AB postcode area is soft, so limescale is not a problem here, with a median of 27 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 19 mg/L in AB39 to 81 mg/L in AB38, from 25 districts with their own water company reading and 8 estimated from the area.
- Soft
- 0 to 60 mg/L
- Moderately soft
- 60 to 120 mg/L
- Slightly hard
- 120 to 180 mg/L
- Hard
- 180 to 200 mg/L
- Very hard
- 200 to 400 mg/L
Hardness by AB district
Hardest first. Hard starts at 180 mg/L, very hard at 250. Districts marked with an asterisk take the area's median rather than a reading of their own.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB38 | Moray | 81 | moderately soft |
| AB56 | Moray | 62 | moderately soft |
| AB42 | Aberdeenshire | 62 | moderately soft |
| AB44 | Aberdeenshire | 62 | moderately soft |
| AB43 | Aberdeenshire | 62 | moderately soft |
| AB30 | Aberdeenshire | 37 | soft |
| AB52 | Aberdeenshire | 28 | soft |
| AB23 | Aberdeen City | 28 | soft |
| AB22 | Aberdeen City | 28 | soft |
| AB41 | Aberdeenshire | 28 | soft |
| AB35* | Aberdeenshire | 27 | soft |
| AB53* | Aberdeenshire | 27 | soft |
| AB37* | Highland | 27 | soft |
| AB24 | Aberdeen City | 27 | soft |
| AB55* | Moray | 27 | soft |
| AB54* | Aberdeenshire | 27 | soft |
| AB45* | Aberdeenshire | 27 | soft |
| AB12 | Aberdeen City | 27 | soft |
| AB34* | Aberdeenshire | 27 | soft |
| AB25 | Aberdeen City | 27 | soft |
| AB36* | Aberdeenshire | 27 | soft |
| AB10 | Aberdeen City | 27 | soft |
| AB11 | Aberdeen City | 26 | soft |
| AB51 | Aberdeenshire | 25 | soft |
| AB14 | Aberdeen City | 25 | soft |
| AB13 | Aberdeen City | 25 | soft |
| AB21 | Aberdeen City | 25 | soft |
| AB33 | Aberdeenshire | 25 | soft |
| AB15 | Aberdeen City | 25 | soft |
| AB32 | Aberdeenshire | 25 | soft |
| AB16 | Aberdeen City | 25 | soft |
| AB31 | Aberdeenshire | 19 | soft |
| AB39 | Aberdeenshire | 19 | soft |
You do not need a softener in Aberdeen.
At 27 mg/L the practical effects are minor. If you notice anything, it is usually chlorine rather than hardness: a shower filter or a filter jug deals with that.
Check your exact postcode
The area figure is a median. Your district can sit anywhere between 19 and 81 mg/L.
Questions about Aberdeen water
Is Aberdeen a hard water area?
No. The median hardness across AB postcode districts is 27 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is soft. 0% of the 33 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in Aberdeen?
Between 19 and 81 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 27. The hardest measured district is AB38 at 81 mg/L and the softest is AB39 at 19. Figures come from water company drinking-water tests, with postcode-area estimates for districts that have no reading of their own.
Do I need a water softener in Aberdeen?
Usually not. At a median of 27 mg/L limescale is a minor issue in Aberdeen. A filter jug or a shower filter covers the everyday effects. Only districts at 180 mg/L or above are worth a softener quote.
Hardness as mg/L calcium carbonate from water company drinking-water tests and postcode checkers. See the UK hardness map for every area.