314mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across CM districts
Is Chelmsford a hard water area?
Yes. Tap water across the CM postcode area is very hard, the top band on the scale water companies use, with a median of 314 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 253 mg/L in CM4 to 416 mg/L in CM7, from 24 districts with their own water company reading.
- 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 CM district
Hardest first. Hard starts at 180 mg/L, very hard at 250.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| CM7 | Braintree | 416 | very hard |
| CM22 | Uttlesford | 350 | very hard |
| CM6 | Uttlesford | 350 | very hard |
| CM24 | Uttlesford | 346 | very hard |
| CM23 | East Hertfordshire | 345 | very hard |
| CM21 | East Hertfordshire | 339 | very hard |
| CM16 | Epping Forest | 338 | very hard |
| CM5 | Epping Forest | 338 | very hard |
| CM17 | Harlow | 329 | very hard |
| CM20 | Harlow | 329 | very hard |
| CM18 | Harlow | 317 | very hard |
| CM19 | Harlow | 317 | very hard |
| CM11 | Basildon | 310 | very hard |
| CM9 | Maldon | 283 | very hard |
| CM12 | Basildon | 280 | very hard |
| CM15 | Brentwood | 280 | very hard |
| CM14 | Brentwood | 275 | very hard |
| CM0 | Maldon | 273 | very hard |
| CM13 | Brentwood | 272 | very hard |
| CM8 | Braintree | 268 | very hard |
| CM2 | Chelmsford | 265 | very hard |
| CM3 | Chelmsford | 258 | very hard |
| CM1 | Chelmsford | 258 | very hard |
| CM4 | Brentwood | 253 | very hard |
What to do about it
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 314 mg/L most CM homes get their money back on a softener within a few years. A filter will not touch limescale; only a softener does.
- Free quotes
- Local installers
- No obligation
Check your own district first
The area figure is a median. Your district can sit anywhere between 253 and 416 mg/L.
Softener quotes for Chelmsford
At 314 mg/L most CM homes get their money back on a softener within a few years. Free quotes from installers covering your postcode.
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Before you buy
- Do I need a water softener?The hardness bands, the symptoms, and when the answer is no
- Best water softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared
- Water softener costUnit, fitting and salt, and how long the payback takes
- Installation explainedWhere it goes, the bypass tap, the drain, DIY or plumber
- Harvey vs KineticoThe two premium twin-cylinder brands, side by side
- Softener salt guideTablet, block or granular, and how much you get through
- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
Questions about Chelmsford water
Is Chelmsford a hard water area?
Yes. The median hardness across CM postcode districts is 314 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is very hard. 100% of the 24 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in Chelmsford?
Between 253 and 416 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 314. The hardest measured district is CM7 at 416 mg/L and the softest is CM4 at 253. Figures come from water company drinking-water tests.
Do I need a water softener in Chelmsford?
In most CM homes a softener pays for itself: at 314 mg/L kettles, boilers and showers scale up quickly. Check your own district first, because hardness varies from 253 to 416 within the area.
Hardness as mg/L calcium carbonate from water company drinking-water tests and postcode checkers. See the UK hardness map for every area.