273mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across DA districts
Is Dartford a hard water area?
Yes. Tap water across the DA postcode area is very hard, the top band on the scale water companies use, with a median of 273 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 251 mg/L in DA10 to 355 mg/L in DA7, from 14 districts with their own water company reading and 4 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 DA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DA7 | Bexley | 355 | very hard |
| DA18 | Bexley | 334 | very hard |
| DA14 | Bexley | 333 | very hard |
| DA15 | Bexley | 293 | very hard |
| DA17 | Bexley | 292 | very hard |
| DA5 | Bexley | 282 | very hard |
| DA8 | Bexley | 277 | very hard |
| DA13* | Gravesham | 273 | very hard |
| DA4* | Sevenoaks | 273 | very hard |
| DA11* | Gravesham | 273 | very hard |
| DA12* | Gravesham | 273 | very hard |
| DA9 | Dartford | 269 | very hard |
| DA6 | Bexley | 268 | very hard |
| DA3 | Sevenoaks | 268 | very hard |
| DA1 | Dartford | 260 | very hard |
| DA16 | Bexley | 256 | very hard |
| DA2 | Dartford | 254 | very hard |
| DA10 | Dartford | 251 | very hard |
What to do about it
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 273 mg/L most DA 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 251 and 355 mg/L.
Softener quotes for Dartford
At 273 mg/L most DA 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 Dartford water
Is Dartford a hard water area?
Yes. The median hardness across DA postcode districts is 273 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is very hard. 100% of the 18 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in Dartford?
Between 251 and 355 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 273. The hardest measured district is DA7 at 355 mg/L and the softest is DA10 at 251. 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 Dartford?
In most DA homes a softener pays for itself: at 273 mg/L kettles, boilers and showers scale up quickly. Check your own district first, because hardness varies from 251 to 355 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.